The Springboks will host the All Blacks in two Rugby Championship Tests later this year, SA Rugby has confirmed.
The rugby governing body on Tuesday announced the Springboks’ home Test schedule for 2024, with Wales also visiting South Africa for three Tests in July.
The Boks will play two home Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand – at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit (6 August) and Ellis Park in Johannesburg (13 (August) – and one against Argentina at Kings Park in Durban (24 September).
Springbok Rugby fixtures 2024
Incoming Series (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday, 2 July: Springboks v Wales – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday, 9 July: Springboks v Wales – Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Saturday, 16 July: Springboks v Wales – Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Rugby Championship (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday, 6 August: Springboks v New Zealand – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Saturday, 13 August: Springboks v New Zealand – Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday, 27 August: Australia v Springboks – venue TBC
Saturday, 3 September: Australia v Springboks – venue TBC
Saturday, 17 September: Argentina v Springboks – Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Saturday, 24 September: Springboks v Argentina – Kings Park, Durban
Springboks to host All Blacks twice as home fixture list for 2024 is revealed
The Springboks will host the All Blacks twice in 2024, and will also welcome Wales to South Africa for a three-test series in July.
South Africa haven’t played in front of a home crowd since August 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but that wait is set to come to an end when the Springboks take on Wales three times on home soil in July.
Although the Springboks hosted test matches against Georgia, the British and Irish Lions and Argentina last year, no supporters were permitted to attend any of those matches due to restrictions on gatherings in South Africa.
As things stand, 2,000 supporters are allowed to attend outdoor sporting events in South Africa, while would allow the Springboks to play in front of their home fans this summer.
Changes to the Rugby Championship format.
The Springboks’ announcement of their home fixtures for the year confirmed a change in format for the Rugby Championship, as New Zealand will play two test matches in South Africa.
Outside of Rugby World Cup years, each team normally plays the other once home and away, but the Springboks will play host to the All Blacks twice, while playing the Wallabies twice in Australia.
South Africa will play Argentina once on home soil and once away as normal, having hosted both of their encounters with Los Pumas in last year’s tournament.
The order of fixtures in the Rugby Championship has also changed. Normally the tournament begins with back-to-back games between New Zealand and Australia, as well as South Africa and Argentina.
This year however, South Africa will play their first two games against New Zealand, while Argentina will play consecutive matches against Australia on home soil.
