Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, a tour like no other, takes place every four years, hosted alternately between South Africa and New Zealand. The first tour takes place in South Africa in August-September 2026. New Zealand will play eight matches including four Test matches at Ellis Park (Johannesburg), DHL Stadium (Cape Town), FNB Stadium (Johannesburg) and a landmark fourth Test in America (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore). They will also face four franchise teams including the DHL Stormers, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions. In 2030, New Zealand plays host as South Africa embark on their first professional-era tour of the country, taking in provincial sides in addition to a Test series. The next chapter in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry.
The Greatest Gallery
A STORY OF SHARED EXCELLENCE
1921
First meeting between the nations. Series shared in NZ
1928
All Blacks tour SA for the first time. Series shared
1937
Springboks win series in NZ. Described at the time as 'the best team to ever leave NZ'
1949
Rivalry returns in SA after the second World War. Series won 4-0 by the Springboks
1960
Springboks edge home series 2-1 with one Test drawn
1965
All Blacks record another 3-1 home series win
1970
Springboks return the compliment with 3-1 home series win
1976
All Blacks return to SA with the Springboks recording another 3-1 win
1981
All Blacks win a home series 2-1 in a tour riven by anti-Apartheid protests and remembered for the 'Flour Bomb Test' in Auckland
1985
All Blacks cancel planned tour to SA due to apartheid policies
1987
South Africa banned from participation in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in Australia & New Zealand
1992
Springboks return from isolation and lose their first Test back in international rugby by 24-27 to the All Blacks in Johannesburg
1994
Springboks return to NZ for the first time in 13 years in the first post-isolation tour and lose the series 2-0 with one Test drawn
1994 Cont.
First democratic elections held after the repeal of Apartheid in 1991. Nelson Mandela elected as SA president
1995
Mandela and a home RWC victory against the All Blacks galvanise a nation and reignite the rivalry
1996
All Blacks win their first Test series in SA 3-1, with the team dubbed 'incomparables'
2003
All Blacks knock the Springboks out in the RWC quarter-finals
2007
Springboks match Australia with second RWC victory in France
2011
All Blacks win second RWC at home in NZ
2015
All Blacks go on to win back-to-back World Cups in England
2019
Springboks lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time in Japan
2023
Springboks beat the All Blacks by one point to win the RWC final in France
2026
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry kicks off for the first time in August, hosted by South Africa
1921
First meeting between the nations. Series shared in NZ
1928
All Blacks tour SA for the first time. Series shared
1937
Springboks win series in NZ. Described at the time as 'the best team to ever leave NZ'
1949
Rivalry returns in SA after the second World War. Series won 4-0 by the Springboks
1960
Springboks edge home series 2-1 with one Test drawn
1965
All Blacks record another 3-1 home series win
1970
Springboks return the compliment with 3-1 home series win
1976
All Blacks return to SA with the Springboks recording another 3-1 win
1981
All Blacks win a home series 2-1 in a tour riven by anti-Apartheid protests and remembered for the 'Flour Bomb Test' in Auckland
1985
All Blacks cancel planned tour to SA due to apartheid policies
1987
South Africa banned from participation in the inaugural Rugby World Cup in Australia & New Zealand
1992
Springboks return from isolation and lose their first Test back in international rugby by 24-27 to the All Blacks in Johannesburg
1994
Springboks return to NZ for the first time in 13 years in the first post-isolation tour and lose the series 2-0 with one Test drawn
1994 Cont.
First democratic elections held after the repeal of Apartheid in 1991. Nelson Mandela elected as SA president
1995
Mandela and a home RWC victory against the All Blacks galvanise a nation and reignite the rivalry
1996
All Blacks win their first Test series in SA 3-1, with the team dubbed 'incomparables'
2003
All Blacks knock the Springboks out in the RWC quarter-finals
2007
Springboks match Australia with second RWC victory in France
2011
All Blacks win second RWC at home in NZ
2015
All Blacks go on to win back-to-back World Cups in England
2019
Springboks lift the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time in Japan
2023
Springboks beat the All Blacks by one point to win the RWC final in France
2026
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry kicks off for the first time in August, hosted by South Africa