Leighton Koopman
IT was about time the Springboks and the All Blacks decided to bring back three-Test bilateral tours.
For the first time in 30 years, the arch rivals are set to tour each other in 2026 and 2030 in an expanded Test series dubbed ‘The Greatest Rivalry’, it was confirmed this week.
Although not yet fixed on the international rugby calendar, plans are moving swiftly to realise the tours, which could be a financial saving grace for both countries.
The All Blacks will tour South Africa first, with three Tests and midweek matches against the four United Rugby Championship sides, the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions.
The Springboks will then tour New Zealand in 2030 and it will include friendly matches most likely against the Kiwi Super Rugby teams.
What that means for the Rugby Championship and its further existence remains to be seen, though.
It’s no secret that the Boks and All Blacks have been carrying the southern hemisphere competition with the revenue they generate almost since its inception.
Although Argentina joined the fray late to start the Rugby Championship, the Wallabies and Rugby Australia have been benefiting hugely from the rivalry created between the Boks and the Kiwis during the Tri-Nations, as the tournament was previously known.
So, it’s about time that the world champions and the All Blacks decided to make a move on their own, which will only benefit the two sides as well as SA Rugby and the New Zealand Rugby Football Union.
There’s no doubt this news will not go down well in Australia and Argentina, with both sides set to lose out on valuable Rugby Championship clashes against the Boks and All Blacks when those tours take place.
Although the Springboks are keen to continue their southern hemisphere matches against the Wallabies and Los Pumas in the Rugby Championship, this could water down to only one Test each per year from 2026.
It will be wise for South Africa not to discard the Aussies entirely as they remain good opponents, as we saw in the two recent Tests Down Under, where Bok coach Rassie Erasmus could alter his plans with the different sides he picked.
Should the Rugby Championship revert to a one-round competition, it would definitely be in the best interest of the Boks because it will mean they won’t travel across several time zones to play Australia and Argentina home and away.
The big talking point, of course, is if the Championship does fall away for the Boks, as Super Rugby did, it could open the door for the world champions to join the Six Nations Championship in the near-future.
That will be another big blow to southern hemisphere rugby. But for now, the good news of having three Tests against New Zealand again should excite Springbok and All Black supporters alike.