In 2026 rugby returns to what it once was in the 70's, 80's and early 90's before the game turned professional post the 1995 Rugby World Cup. For the first time in many, many years, 2026 will host a full-blown New Zealand (All Blacks) tour of South Africa.

Famously branded as "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry", it is hard to argue with the sentiment given that they are the two most successful international rugby sides in the history of the game. South Africa have won the Rugby World Cup on four occasions while New Zealand have claimed the William Webb Ellis trophy three times - these two also competed in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.

It has been three decades since New Zealand toured South Africa as after the game turned professional, the Tri Nations (now Rugby Championship) came about. While that was a hugely exciting time for rugby, fans have long yearned for a return to the 'old school' tours.

For those unaware, the only similar tour that still happens today is when the British & Irish Lions tour South Africa, New Zealand or Australia - where the touring side not only plays three Test matches against the host nation (four in this case) but they also have midweek fixtures against provincial outfits of the host nation.

Three of the Test matches will take place in South Africa before the fourth will be played in Baltimore, USA. The tour also comes with South Africa at the cusp of rugby dominance after claiming the last two Rugby World Cup titles and are currently clearly placed at the top of the World Rugby Rankings.

Below we take a look at the full list of fixtures for the tour that starts in August and concludes in September 2026. There will be four games against provincial sides for the All Blacks, three of which take place prior to the first test, while another kicks off in the week between the first and second Test. There are no provincial games after the second test nor before the fourth Test that takes place in Baltimore, USA.

Major bookmakers have yet to release odds for this tour, likely holding back until after the July internationals against Northern Hemisphere sides in the Nations Championship. Once those fixtures are played, we are likely to see a full set of odds for his historic tour.

Based on recent form, South Africa are very likely to be favourites at home, but much can change a few months.

'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' is not simply a marketing tool; it is in fact...a fact. This is a match-up between the two greatest international rugby union sides in history, at least since it turned professional, although it stretches back to the early 1900s.

Since these two began playing each other in 1921, both sides have enjoyed periods of dominance, but overall, with more than 100 years of games, New Zealand have been the dominant force.

The All Blacks have won 63 of their 110 matches against South Africa while the Springboks have 43 wins and four draws. In South Africa, it is very close with the hosts winning 28 times to New Zealand's 25 in 54 matches - one draw.

It is in New Zealand where the All Blacks have been dominant, winning 34 of their 48 Test matches. There has been three draws and a mere 11 victories for the men in green and gold.

More recently though, South Africa have been the dominant side, winning five of their last six encounters against New Zealand.

Anticipation of this tour has grown since the moment it was announced as a possibility a few years back. Fans have been begging for 'old school' tours to return and going by how quickly ticket sales have taken off across the three test venues, it is going to be something to behold.

Eyes from around the globe will be watching and to cap it off, the first-ever match between South Africa and New Zealand in the USA will take place. It is a market that Union has tried to capture for a few years now and with the All Blacks relatively regular fixtures in the USA, they have built a brand - they are the biggest international rugby brand by some distance.

But it isn't just Test matches that we have to look forward to - what makes these tours unique and special for many is the games against provincial outfits. It gives certain players from the various unions in South Africa a chance to play against the mighty All Blacks, something not many of them will experience in the green and gold jersey.

It isn't just about experience, of course, this is where New Zealand will be putting their fringe players to the Test and where form can get them selected for the Test matches. Similarly, many of South Africa's fringe internationals will feature against the All Blacks in these provincial fixtures as a means to see how they perform against an international quality side.

With tickets all but sold out for the three Test matches, the provincial fixtures will be next on the list for those unlucky ones who missed out on the big ones. This promises to be one of the greatest tours in memory, particularly if the Springboks manage to come up with the goods in front of their home support.