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Local rugby fans, you're surely counting down to the inaugural Nations Championship tournament starting in July. But consider it the opening act.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 is set to land on South African soil as a blockbuster series that will see South Africa and New Zealand battle it out in a host of men’s and women’s Test matches across the country. The series kicks off on August 7 when the DHL Stormers host the All Blacks at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, before travelling to Durban and Pretoria for clashes against the Hollywoodbets Sharks and Vodacom Bulls respectively.
The rivalry will then head to Johannesburg and Cape Town for a series of highly anticipated clashes between the Springboks and the All Blacks, with the final Test taking place at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, USA, on September 12. And unlike the Nations Championship, which sees teams battling across multiple pools and knockout rounds, Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is all about one matchup: green and gold versus the all black!
Airlink on the wing
Making this rivalry gees even more accessible, Airlink has been announced as the official domestic airline partner for the various South African fixtures - transporting players, coaches, management and support staff, as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour moves between cities.
“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is set to produce thrillers for the competing teams and thousands of attending fans,” said Airlink CEO de Villiers Engelbrecht, with the airline's network set across the key match cities, as well 48 destinations across Southern Africa.
In Johannesburg, rugby holds a particularly strong cultural significance.
Rugby has long formed a part of the city’s sporting identity, with Ellis Park Stadium’s iconic moments influencing how the game is experienced locally. Beyond results on the field, rugby has long played a unifying role in South Africa’s history, most notably during the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when it stood as a symbol of the “Rainbow Nation” and a rare moment of shared national unity.
That sense of togetherness still shows up in how Joburg watches rugby today. On big match days, the city’s social spaces fill up with supporters coming and turning the games into a collective event. Watch parties at venues such as Tiger’s Milk and BeerPark Sandton are expected to draw crowds, with fans coming together to experience the rivalry in a shared atmosphere rather than watching alone.
ICYMI: Where to watch live rugby in Johannesburg
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026 fixtures
The tournament is set to run across August through to September - click here for more information or to book match tickets
August 7
DHL Stormers vs All Blacks — Cape Town
August 11
Hollywoodbets Sharks vs All Blacks — Durban
August 15
Vodacom Bulls vs All Blacks — Pretoria
August 22
Springboks vs All Blacks — Ellis Park, Johannesburg
August 25
Lions vs All Blacks — Ellis Park, Johannesburg
August 29
Springboks vs All Blacks — Cape Town
September 5
Springbok Women vs Black Ferns — FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
September 5
Springboks vs All Blacks — FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
September 12
Springboks vs All Blacks — Baltimore, USA
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