Starting gun fired on rugby’s own ‘Odyssey’

A 30-year wait for the resumption of tours between rugby’s greatest rivals, ended this week with the arrival of the touring All Blacks in South Africa for the start of an eight-match odyssey.

The All Blacks will be hosted at a Welcome to Country event at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday – a week before meeting the DHL Stormers at the same venue.

Matches against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls will precede the first Test at 10bet Ellis Park before a final midweek match against the Lions. Tests at the DHL and FNB Stadiums follow before the Tour decamps en masse for a fourth Test in Baltimore, USA.

The lure of becoming the first South African provincial team to beat the All Blacks in South Africa since the 1976 tour will be a significant lure for the local teams.

The Springbok Women will also meet the seven-times world champion Black Ferns at FNB Stadium in a double-header event that will take the live attendance audience to more than a quarter of a million during the Tour.

“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 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.”

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.”

New Zealand were unbeaten in their provincial matches on their 1996 Tour, winning three and drawing one. They won the Test series – their first series victory in South Africa – by two Tests to one.

This time, the All Blacks will perform the haka in front of South Africa’s four Vodacom United Rugby Championship teams and crowds.

“Most of the URC players weren’t alive when the All Blacks last appeared against a provincial team which shows just how special this event will be,” said Rian Oberhozler, CEO of SA Rugby.

“It won’t be repeated here for another eight years by which time there’ll have been two more Rugby World Cups and four Nations Championships which underlines just what a unique opportunity it will be for provincial players and fans.

“The prospect of perhaps becoming the first South African provincial team to beat the All Blacks since the Cheetahs (then Orange Free State) beat them 15-10 in September 1976 would be a boast that would last for another 50 years.”

To give the four franchise matches a distinctive local flavour, SA Rugby launched a competition for schools which has seen scores of impassioned and vibrant submissions. The four selected winning schools will be given the opportunity to perform their war-cry as an answer to the All Blacks’ haka at each of the four franchise matches.

Springbok squad

Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ntuthuko Mchunu (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).

Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears).

Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).

Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).

All Black squad

Props: Ethan De Groot (Highlanders/Southland), George Bower (Crusaders/Otago), Xavier Numia (Hurricanes/Wellington), Ollie Norris (Chiefs/Waikato), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes/Tasman), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders/Canterbury), Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes/Bay of Plenty), Siale Lauaki (Hurricanes/Wellington).

Hookers: Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes/Wellington), Codie Taylor (Crusaders/Canterbury), Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs/Waikato), George Bell (Crusaders/Canterbury).

Locks: Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs/Taranaki), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues/Auckland), Josh Lord (Chiefs/Taranaki), Sam Darry (Blues/Canterbury), Fabian Holland (Highlanders/Otago).

Loose Forwards: Peter Lakai (Hurricanes/Wellington), Simon Parker (Chiefs/Northland), Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders/Tasman), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs/Waikato), Anton Segner (Blues/Auckland), Ardie Savea (captain, Moana Pasifika/Wellington), Wallace Sititi (Chiefs/North Harbour), Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (Moana Pasifika/Southland).

Scrumhalves: Cameron Roigard (Hurricanes/Counties Manukau), Cortez Ratima (Chiefs/Waikato), Kyle Preston (Crusaders/Wellington)

Flyhalves: Ruben Love (Hurricanes/Wellington), Beauden Barrett (Blues/Taranaki), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs/Waikato), Josh Jacomb (Chiefs/Taranaki).

Centres: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes/Taranaki), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs/Waikato), Billy Proctor (Hurricanes/Wellington), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs/Waikato), Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders/Tasman).

Outside Backs: Caleb Clarke (Blues/Auckland), Fehi Fineanganofo (Hurricanes/Bay of Plenty), Leroy Carter (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty), Josh Moorby (Hurricanes/Waikato), Will Jordan (Crusaders/Tasman), Rieko Ioane (Blues/Auckland), Emoni Narawa (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty).

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour fixtures 2026

Friday 7 August: DHL Stormers v New Zealand at DHL Stadium, Cape Town (7.10pm)

Tuesday 11 August: Hollywoodbets Sharks v New Zealand at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban (7.10pm)

Saturday 15 August: Vodacom Bulls v New Zealand at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (7.10pm)

Saturday 22 August: First Test – South Africa v New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg (5.10pm)

Tuesday 25 August: Lions v New Zealand at Ellis Park, Johannesburg (7.10pm)

Saturday 29 August: Second Test – South Africa v New Zealand at DHL Stadium, Cape Town (5.10pm)

Saturday 5 September: Springbok Women v Black Ferns at FNB Stadium, Soweto (1.30pm)

Saturday 5 September: Third Test – South Africa v New Zealand at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (5.10pm)

Saturday 12 September: Fourth Test – South Africa v New Zealand at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA (11pm)