The countdown to the Springboks’ 2025 season has officially begun. In just over a month, South Africa’s national rugby team will kick off their campaign with a blockbuster showdown against the Barbarians at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium on Saturday, 28 June (kick-off at 17:05).
That exciting fixture will mark the start of a jam-packed international season for the Boks, featuring a host of high-profile clashes both at home and abroad.
Incoming Series: Familiar Foes Return
Following the Barbarians match, the Springboks will dive into the Incoming Series, where they’ll face Italy twice — in Pretoria (5 July) and Gqeberha (12 July) — before taking on Georgia in Nelspruit on 19 July. All three Tests kick off at 17:10 local time.
Rugby Championship: Rivalries Reignite
August brings the start of the Rugby Championship. South Africa will face Australia at Ellis Park (16 August) and in Cape Town (23 August), before traveling to New Zealand for two showdowns with the All Blacks in Auckland (6 September) and Wellington (13 September), both early morning kick-offs at 09:05.
The final leg of the Championship sees the Boks host Argentina in Durban on 27 September, before a unique fixture against Los Pumas in London on 4 October.
Year-End Tour: Northern Giants Await
As tradition goes, the Springboks will wrap up their year with a tour of the Northern Hemisphere in November. They’ll take on France in Paris (8 November), Italy in Turin (15 November), Ireland in Dublin (22 November), and Wales in Cardiff (29 November). Kick-off times for most of these fixtures are still to be confirmed, although the clash against Ireland is set for 19:40 SA time, and the Wales match will kick off at 17:10.
There’s also talk of a potential clash against Japan being added to the tour, which would further spice up an already intense calendar.
