8 October 2026
The Springbok Women will close out a bumper 2026 season with a heavy-hitting two-Test WXV Global Series home campaign against Ireland. Athlone Stadium in Cape Town hosts the double-header later this month, with tickets officially on sale through Ticketmaster.
Ireland lands in South Africa fresh off two clinical wins against Japan and a narrow defeat to the USA. The visitors also secured a third-place finish in the prestigious Women’s Six Nations earlier this year.
The Bok Women counter with serious momentum after bouncing back from a Wales defeat to down both Italy and Spain on tour. This follows their earlier triumphs in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and a hard-fought series draw against the USA.
“After a wobbly start against Wales, the Springbok Women really made a step up with good victories over Italy and Spain, and we are confident they will hit the ground running when they face Ireland in a few weeks’ time,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“It’s imperative for our women to play against better-ranked teams than themselves, and the two games against Ireland provide them with that opportunity. The Irish have a very strong women’s programme, and they will provide a stern test.”
History favours the visitors, with Ireland winning 37-0 in Canada during the 2006 Women’s Rugby World Cup. This series marks the first time these sides clash on South African soil in over 20 years.
Australian referee Jess Ling will hold the whistle for both fixtures in Cape Town. She anchors an international officiating team featuring Precious Pazani, Giana Viljoen, Matteo Liperini, and Quinton Immelman.
The opening clash between South Africa and Ireland kicks off at 15:00 SAST on Saturday, 24 October at Athlone Stadium. The two sides then lock horns again at the same Cape Town venue for the second Test on Saturday, 31 October, with kick-off also locked in for 15:00 SAST.