Boks add Wallaby test to big 2026 schedule

The Springboks will play the Wallabies in an extra test this year, with the game being set for Perth on September 27.

While the Springbok season is set to be dominated by the Greatest Rivalry tour as the All Blacks arrive in August to play three tests and four midweek games, followed by a fourth test in Baltimore, USA, the extra test gives coach Rassie Erasmus a chance to give more test caps to the players in his squad in preparation for the defence of their World Cup title in the same country next year.

With the Greatest Rivalry tour, the Rugby Championship was shelved this season and it was feared the Boks would lose out without a game against the Wallabies, but this test has confirmed that the contact will still take place.

The Springboks are no strangers to Perth and will face their Pool game against Romania in the Western Australian capital.

The Boks also have three home tests against England, Scotland and Wales as part of the new Nations Championship and are planning a warm-up game against the Barbarians to give their Japanese-based players a run before the test season begins.

While the Barbarians game is still to be officially confirmed, Erasmus confirmed to rugby writers last week that it is likely to be in Gqeberha a week before the England test.

The Boks' preparations will be primarily to win the Greatest Rivalry test series, but will have one eye on Australia, as a lot of work will need to be done to ensure they are in top form when they get to the World Cup next year.

The game also ensures the Mandela Plate, currently held by South Africa, is also up for grabs again this year. The Wallabies shocked the Boks at Ellis Park last year but were beaten in Cape Town a week later before the Springboks won the Rugby Championship for the second year running a few weeks later.

Springbok fixtures for 2026

27 June v Barbarians, Gqeberha (tbc)

Nations Championship

4 July v England, Johannesburg

11 July v Scotland, Pretoria

18 July v Wales, Durban

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry - All Blacks tour

22 August, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

29 August, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town

5 September, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg

12 September, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

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