Springboks and All Blacks set to resume traditional tours

In the glory days of Rugby Union, global travel challenges resulted in international touring teams spending months playing in their host nation, initially playing against club teams then capping off the tour with Test matches.

A new agreement between the South African Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby is set to bring back those days. Starting with the All Blacks coming to the Republic in 2026, a rigorous eight-match schedule has been proposed. It includes three Tests, four clashes against United Rugby Championship clubs and one match against an SA 'A' side. A fourth Test outside South Africa - potentially Europe or North America - will also be played but not as part of the official series.

"I just spent two days with the New Zealand leadership in what we are calling the Greatest Rugby Rivalry,"  SARU chief executive Rian Oberholzer was quoted as saying.

"It's a working title, although some people might say it is arrogant to say that. We have signed a memorandum of understanding and we are in the planning phases now. We have a draft schedule that must still be agreed.

"We met with the commercial brokers on setting the commercial property, the sponsorship matrix and we will go to market in due course. We believe we have to be in the broadcast market soon.

"It is a collaboration of two unions that have agreed to work together off the field. We believe we have to be closer â- and we have never been close.

"Let's fight on the field and let's work off the field to the betterment of both of the unions. We have such a challenge in rugby with funding, so we have to create our own opportunities, and that is what we are busy with at the moment.

"In principle, everything's in order and the hard work starts now. We have to do ticket pricing, for example. We will probably follow the Lions model by starting around the coast, come back, play the Test matches - three Test matches in South Africa - and one out of South Africa before the series starts."

The first tour is being touted for 2026, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the All Blacks' 1996 tour to South Africa, the last edition before the then Tri-Nations took over. A 36-man squad played eight games, including three Tests against the Boks. Legendary Captain Sean Fitzpatrick led his men to a 2-1 series win, their first success in six Tours since 1926.

The Boks last toured New Zealand in 1981, a tour marred in controversy due to widespread protests against Apartheid. Nonetheless, the Bok squad played no less than 17 matches over three months, losing only two to the All Blacks. 

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