The 30-year wait for the return of full-length traditional tours between rugby’s fiercest rivals officially ended this week as the All Blacks touched down in South Africa. The heavyweights have arrived for an expansive eight-match, cross-continental series titled "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry".
The touring New Zealanders will first be welcomed at a Welcome to Country cultural event at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Friday, exactly one week before they kick off their match campaign against the DHL Stormers at the same venue.
The intensive itinerary features matchups against South Africa's premier domestic franchises before culminating in a four-Test series against the back-to-back world champion Springboks.
* 7 August: vs DHL Stormers (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
* 11 August: vs Hollywoodbets Sharks (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
* 15 August: vs Vodacom Bulls (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
* 22 August: 1st Test vs Springboks (10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
* 25 August: vs Fidelity Lions (10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
* 29 August: 2nd Test vs Springboks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
* 5 September: 3rd Test vs Springboks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
* 12 September: 4th Test vs Springboks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)
For South Africa’s local United Rugby Championship (URC) franchises, the lure of making history is massive. No South African provincial side has defeated the All Blacks on domestic soil since September 1976.
“Most of the current URC players were not even alive when the All Blacks last played a provincial team, which shows just how rare and special this tour is,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby. “The prospect of becoming the first local team to beat them in half a century is a boast that would last for another 50 years.”
The tour is set to shatter modern attendance expectations, with total live crowd figures projected to cross the quarter-of-a-million mark. Adding to the historic scale of the event, the FNB Stadium fixture will feature an elite double-header: the Springbok Women will take the field to face off against the seven-time world champion Black Ferns.
“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is more than a contest between two proud nations; it is a celebration of history, tradition and the enduring spirit of the game,” said Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.
“Each encounter between South Africa and New Zealand carries with it the weight of decades of competition, respect and shared excellence.
“This rivalry has produced moments that have defined rugby itself, battles of skill, courage and resilience that inspire generations of players and supporters alike. It is a fixture that transcends sport, uniting communities and reminding us of rugby’s power to connect people across borders.
“As custodians of the game, we honour this rivalry not only for its intensity on the field but also for the values it represents: respect, sportsmanship, and the pursuit of excellence. Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is a testament to the enduring bond between our nations and the global significance of our sport.”
Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis, Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, said: “On behalf of the people of Cape Town, and every rugby-loving supporter in South Africa, I wish the touring All Blacks the warmest Cape Town welcome. We love having you here in South Africa, and we are thrilled that you kick off your tour in the most beautiful city of them all.
“As far as I’m concerned, there is no greater sporting spectacle in the world than the Green and Gold against the All Blacks, and the excitement for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is unlike anything we’ve experienced in decades.
“I also want our visitors to know that it’s nothing personal; off the field, we will be the perfect hosts and treat you like royalty, but on the field, you can expect no mercy, as our Stormers look to become the first provincial SA team in 50 years to beat the All Blacks. To everyone attending the Stormers and Springbok matches here at DHL Cape Town Stadium, may you have a wonderful time and cherish this historic occasion.”