The rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand in rugby is extremely fierce. The rivalry goes back 103 years, dating back to 1921. It has recently been announced that there would be tours between the two rivals starting from 2026.
As stated above, the first clash took place in 1921. It took place in Dunedin, where The All Blacks beat The Springboks 13 - 5. It is argued to be the biggest rivalry in World Rugby history. There is considerable history behind these matches, much of it off the field.
In 1981, there were numerous protests in New Zealand over the Springboks coming to tour New Zealand due to the then South African government's policy of Apartheid. Consequently, subsequent tours were cancelled and the All Blacks and Springboks didn't meet again until August 1992, in Johannesburg, when the Springboks were re-admitted to World Rugby.
Until 1996, New Zealand had never won a series in South Africa but South Africa had won a series in New Zealand in 1937. The rivalry was close for eighty years between 1921-2000, when New Zealand led the head-to-head by 27-26. In the first 17 years of the 21st century, New Zealand compiled a 30-9 record over South Africa. The appointment of Rassie Erasmus as coach of the Springboks in 2018 resulted in the rivalry reigniting, as South Africa lead the series 6-5 since his appointment.
It has recently come to light that an agreement between the two boards that tours between the two countries will take place every four years; starting in 2026 with New Zealand touring South Africa.
It's believed that these tours are getting the full British & Irish Lions tour treatment.
The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national team, although they can pick uncapped players who are eligible for any of the four unions. The team tours every four years, with these rotating between Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in order. The most recent test series, the 2021 series against South Africa, was won 2–1 by South Africa.
From 1888 onwards, combined British rugby sides toured the Southern Hemisphere. The first tour was a commercial venture, undertaken without official backing. The six subsequent visits enjoyed a growing degree of support from the authorities, before the 1910 South Africa tour, which was the first tour representative of the four Home Unions.
In 1949, the four Home Unions formally created a Tours Committee and for the first time, every player of the 1950 Lions squad had played internationally before the tour. The 1950's tours saw high win rates in provincial games but the Test series were typically lost or drawn. The series wins in 1971 (New Zealand) and 1974 (South Africa) interrupted this pattern. The last tour of the amateur age took place in 1993. The Lions have also played occasional matches in the Northern Hemisphere either as one-off exhibitions or before a Southern Hemisphere tour.
The touring parties playing as many as nine games – and, perhaps most significantly, three to four Tests. As is the case with the Lions, these tours will be staged every four years.
While the schedule has yet to be confirmed, the All Blacks will tour South Africa in 2026, and will play the four top franchises as well as the SA “A” side. Three Tests will be staged in the Republic, while a fourth could be played at an overseas venue.
In 2030, the Boks will travel to New Zealand to battle the local Kiwi franchises as well as the All Blacks. It’s the type of news that transcends the result of the current two-match series between Rassie Erasmus’ Boks and Scott Robertson’s All Blacks.
In the coming years, the narrative around these two great teams will be allowed to develop over the course of four to five weeks and the rivalry may be restored to its former glory.
Bok players, past and present, often speak about a match against the All Blacks as the ultimate challenge, given the history between the two proud rugby nations. Now that the quadrennial tour concept has been approved, players on both sides will have reason to adjust their goals.
Teams often talk about building towards a World Cup or Lions series. With a view to 2026, 2030 and every series thereafter, South Africa and New Zealand will speak about these tours in the same breath.
Erasmus has already said that he is building a squad to peak at the 2027 World Cup. No doubt he will want some answers before the Boks host the All Blacks in 2026, in a series that will be as big as a Lions tour.
The future of the Rugby Championship and its further existence remains to be seen, though.
It’s no secret that the Boks and All Blacks have been carrying the southern hemisphere competition with the revenue they generate almost since it's inception.
Although Argentina joined the fray late to start the Rugby Championship, the Wallabies and Rugby Australia have been benefiting hugely from the rivalry created between the Boks and the Kiwis during the Tri-Nations, as the tournament was previously known as.
So, it’s about time that the world champions and the All Blacks decided to make a move on their own, which will only benefit the two sides as well as SA Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
It would also mean the Rugby Championship schedule would likely be pushed back to align with the Six Nations - a change SA Rugby have been pursuing for some time, given the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions all play in European competitions.
There’s no doubt this news will not go down well in Australia and Argentina, with both sides set to lose out on valuable Rugby Championship clashes against the Boks and All Blacks when those tours take place.
Should the Rugby Championship revert to a one-round competition, it would definitely be in the best interest of the Boks because it will mean they won’t travel across several time zones to play Australia and Argentina home and away.
The big talking point, of course, is if the Championship does fall away for South Africa, as Super Rugby did, it could open the door for the world champions to join the Six Nations Championship in the near-future.
I am thrilled that these tours set to take place. It's always exciting when these two sides clash. It's always unpredictable. If the past two weekend clashes were anything to go by, It's that South Africa vs. New Zealand will always bring out the best in their opponents.
These clashes will be exhilarating to watch.