Bok boss Rassie Erasmus seeks additional fixture for 2025 season

The Boks will kickoff 2025 as the top-ranked team in the world with preparations for the new international season already underway.

Erasmus has invited 55 players to the first alignment camp of the year in Cape Town with a further 26 players joining virtually.

South Africa kick-off their international season on home soil with back-to-back Test matches against Italy before a one-Test versus Georgia.

The venues for the three internationals are still to be confirmed with the Springboks then welcoming Joe Schmidt's Wallabies to South Africa for back-to-back matches in the Rugby Championship.

Their title defence continues in New Zealand with Auckland and Wellington playing host to the rivalry. A final home game against Argentina concludes their Rugby Championship campaign before the pair collide at the Allianz Stadium in London.

The Springboks will face France, Italy and Ireland during the Autumn Nations Series with the year concluding with a clash against Wales that will fall outside the official World Rugby international window which means both sides will be without any players plying their trade with Premiership or Top 14 clubs.

That takes the Springboks Test tally to 12 but Erasmus has confirmed that SA Rugby is exploring options to add another match before their first two clashes with Italy.

"Erasmus said options are being investigated for a match prior to the Castle Lager Incoming Series, when the Boks take on Italy in back-to-back Tests on 5 and 12 July, followed by a clash against Georgia on 19 July," an SA Rugby statement read.

This is not uncommon ground for the Springboks as just last year they faced Wales in a one-off Test match at Twickenham Stadium before their two matches against Ireland on home soil.

That fixture was also outside the official Test window meaning that Erasmus could not select any of his players based in France or England but was able to call upon stars who ply their trade in Japan which is likely to be the case again.

It is unclear whether the additional game will be hosted at a neutral venue or not but reports indicate that it will not be an official Test match.

This could mean that a South Africa A team or the Springboks could take the field against an invitation team like the World XV, Barbarians or French Barbarians before the opening Test match against the Azzurri on 5 July.

A possible clash against the likes of neighbours Zimbabwe or Namibia could be another option that Erasmus is exploring while 'A' team matches are becoming increasingly more popular nowadays with England, Ireland, Australia and the All Blacks XV all playing recently.

Springboks 2025 confirmed fixtures

5 July: Springboks v Italy
12 July: Springboks v Italy
19 July: Springboks v Georgia
16 August: Springboks v Australia
23 August: Springboks v Australia
6 September: v New Zealand, Auckland
13 September: v New Zealand, Wellington
27 September: Springboks v Argentina
4 October: vs Argentina, London
8 November: vs France, Paris
15 November: vs Italy, TBC
22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin
29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff