Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026
Eight matches. Four Tests. Five weeks. The All Blacks are in South Africa for the biggest bilateral rugby tour in a generation, running from Cape Town on 7 August to Baltimore on 12 September. Every fixture, kick-off time, venue and where to watch is on this page. We refresh it every week.
By Sipho Nkosi · Published 17 Aug 2026 · Last updated 17 Aug 2026
What is Rugby's Greatest Rivalry?
It is an eight-match tour and the reason the Rugby Championship is not running this year. The programme has four Tests between the Boks and All Blacks, three on SA soil and the fourth in Baltimore. It also has four warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions.
The Freedom Cup is on the line every time the Boks and All Blacks meet. The Boks arrive on a 12-Test winning streak, having beaten New Zealand 43-10 in Wellington last September in the All Blacks' heaviest Test defeat (Guardian).
The full 2026 schedule
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off (SAST) | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 7 Aug | Stormers v All Blacks | 19:00 | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | Played |
| Tue 11 Aug | Sharks v All Blacks | 19:00 | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban | Played |
| Sat 15 Aug | Bulls v All Blacks | 19:00 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | Played |
| Sat 22 Aug | Springboks v All Blacks, 1st Test | 17:10 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Preview |
| Tue 25 Aug | Lions v All Blacks | 19:00 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | Preview |
| Sat 29 Aug | Springboks v All Blacks, 2nd Test | 17:10 | DHL Stadium, Cape Town | Preview |
| Sat 5 Sep | Springboks v All Blacks, 3rd Test | 17:10 | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg | Upcoming |
| Sat 12 Sep | Springboks v All Blacks, 4th Test | 23:00 | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore | Upcoming |
The Baltimore Test is at 23:00 SAST on Saturday 12 September. Set an alarm.
How to watch in South Africa
SuperSport holds the SA broadcast rights across the tour. The home fixtures are carried on SuperSport's rugby and Grandstand coverage, available on DStv Premium and DStv Compact Plus. DStv Stream carries the online feed.
We have a full fixture-by-fixture viewing guide at Where to watch Rugby's Greatest Rivalry in South Africa.
The head-to-head
Before the 2024 Cape Town Test, New Zealand led the historic record 62-41 with four draws in 107 Tests (NZ Herald). The current tour adds four more Tests to that history.
Match previews and rugby markets
Each Test gets a dedicated preview in match week. Start with the first Test frame at Ellis Park, then read our neutral guide to Rugby's Greatest Rivalry markets and series bets.
- 1st Test preview: Boks v All Blacks, Ellis Park, 22 Aug
- Lions v All Blacks preview, Ellis Park, 25 Aug
- 2nd Test frame: Boks v All Blacks, Cape Town, 29 Aug
FAQ
When does the first Test kick off?
Saturday 22 August, 17:10 SAST at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Where can I watch every Test in South Africa?
SuperSport holds the SA broadcast rights. DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus and DStv Stream carry the relevant coverage.
What is the Freedom Cup?
It is the trophy contested between the Boks and the All Blacks whenever they meet in a Test series.
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