The All Blacks will host the Springboks in Auckland and Christchurch next year, Dave Rennie has revealed.
SANZAAR have yet to confirm the venues and fixtures for next year’s Rugby Championship tournament, but the back-to-back world champions are scheduled to travel to Aotearoa.
In a radio interview, Rennie let the cat out of the bag though, revealing that Rassie Erasmus’ men will tackle the men in black in two Tests weeks after the Super Rugby Pacific final.
Unlike in previous World Cup years, there will be a full Rugby Championship tournament with the four nations playing each other on two occasions.
The tournament was shelved this year to make room for the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, which the Springboks won 3-1, but will return in its full form in 2027 with South Africa defending their title.
Springboks return to Christchurch
In an interview on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast show, Rennie revealed that the first Rugby Championship match between the Springboks and All Blacks next year will take place in Auckland, presumably Eden Park, with the round two clash then heading to Christchurch, a city South Africa last faced the All Blacks in back in 2016.
That fixture took place at Christchurch Stadium, with New Zealand emerging 41-13 victors, but next year’s match is set to take place at the new One NZ Stadium.
“We play each other twice in July as well, straight after the Super Rugby final, like two weeks later. We play them again in Auckland and Christchurch,” Rennie said when asked about the potential World Cup quarter-final showdown in just over 12 months’ time.
“We are going to play them a lot leading up to the World Cup. Look, I think their side may look a tad different, but I think the nucleus will be the same and how they play the game will still be pretty similar.
“Likely to meet in a quarter-final if both teams won their pool, which is odd, but it is what it is.”
Rugby Championship format for 2027
Last year, SANZAAR confirmed that a full Rugby Championship would take place in July and August next year in the build-up to the World Cup, which kicks off in October.
In 2027, Australia will be visiting South Africa for two Tests after the Boks travel to New Zealand for rounds one and two. Argentina will therefore face the Wallabies twice in Australia, with Los Pumas hosting Rassie Erasmus’ men in one Test, with the other set to take place in South Africa.
The Wallabies and All Blacks are set to face off in the first Bledisloe Cup Test match in Sydney on April 25, marking the first time in the 123-year history of the rivalry that a match is played on Anzac Day.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Rugby Australia has confirmed that the second Bledisloe Cup match, this one forming part of the Rugby Championship, will take place on July 31 at a home venue for Les Kiss’ side before they tackle the All Blacks, presumably in New Zealand a week later.
Los Pumas are set to host the All Blacks in the final two rounds of the tournament.
Rugby Australia have released details of the Wallabies’ build-up to their home Rugby World Cup, which discloses that they will face Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, in that order, in the Rugby Championship.
Likely Rugby Championship schedule
Round one
New Zealand v South Africa- Saturday, 10th July at Eden Park, Auckland
Australia v Argentina – Saturday, 10th July at Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Round two
New Zealand v South Africa – Saturday, 17th July at One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
Australia v Argentina – Saturday, 17th July at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Round three
Australia v New Zealand – Saturday, 31st July in Australia
South Africa v Argentina – Saturday, 31st July
Round four
New Zealand v Australia – date and venue tbc
Argentina v South Africa – date and venue tbc
Round five
Australia v South Africa – date and venue tbc
Argentina v New Zealand – date and venue tbc
Round six
Australia v South Africa – date and venue tbc
Argentina v New Zealand – date and venue tbc