Following the news earlier this year that the Springboks would take on the Wallabies at Cape Town Stadium (DHL Stadium) on 23 August, a second international clash has been announced for the Mother City.
Rassie Erasmus' Boks will take on the Barbarians on Saturday, 28 June, with the match marking the start of the world champions' 2025 international calendar.
This fixture will be the first ever meeting between the Boks and Barbarians on South African soil. The two sides have met eight times before, with the last encounter taking place in London at Wembley Stadium on 5 November 2016. The match ended 31-31.
For those unfamiliar with the Barbarians - or BaaBaas for short, they are a British-based invitational rugby club founded in 1890 and which wear an iconic black and white kit. For 2025, the team will be made up of players from sides that ply their trade in the United Rugby Championship, Top 14, Premiership, Super Rugby and Japan Rugby League One. Think of the BaaBaas as something of a 'Dream Team' made up of players who aren't on international duty.
Speaking after the announcement, Erasmus said: “It’s always exciting to face the BaaBaas, and this match will be particularly special as it marks the first time that we will face them in South Africa. For us this will be the perfect opportunity to get the players match-ready for the official international season, which starts a week later.
“We may have had a satisfying 2024 season, but this is a new year and a fresh challenge, and we’d like to start strong and build momentum as the season progresses. We have a tough year ahead, and the Barbarians, who are usually laden with seasoned internationals, will provide the perfect test before the Castle Lager Incoming Series.”
Tickets for the clash are expected to go on sale in the near future.
After the tussle with the BaaBaas, the Boks will play six matches on home soil in the second half of the year:
Castle Lager Incoming Series
5 July: Boks v Italy – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12 July: Boks v Italy – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
19 July: Boks v Georgia – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Castle Lager Rugby Championship
16 August: Boks v Australia – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
23 August: Boks v Australia – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
27 September: Boks v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
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