The All Blacks have confirmed a long-rumoured 2026 tour of South Africa featuring four tests against the reigning world champion Springboks, three in South Africa and one at an overseas venue yet to be announced.
The five-week tour will also include midweek matches against all four South African URC teams—the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, and Lions—marking the first full-scale tour of the republic since 1976.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson called it a return to “old school” rugby and a chance to honour the 1996 series legacy, while Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus likened the challenge to a World Cup campaign. The tour promises major financial benefits for both unions but raises questions about the future of The Rugby Championship amid the emergence of World Rugby’s new Nations Cup format.
