CONFIRMED: Springboks vs All Blacks at Mbombela Stadium

The Springboks will face the All Blacks at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday August 6.

The Castle Lager Rugby Championship match was confirmed in a press release from SA Rugby this morning.

The Springboks are scheduled to face Wales in three Test matches in the Castle Lager Incoming Series in July, before hosting the All Blacks and Argentina in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in August and September.

The away leg of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship will comprise of three Test matches – two against Australia, and one against Argentina in Buenos Aires.

Wales are set to return to South Africa for the first time since 2014 as the Boks kick off their 2022 season with three Tests against the Dragons – at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday July 2, Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein ( July 9) and DHL Stadium in Cape Town (July 16).

The Boks will then launch the home leg of their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign three weeks later with back-to-back home Tests against the All Blacks, at Mbombela Stadium on August 6, and a week later at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, on 13 August.

They will then depart for Australia for the away leg of the competition where they will meet the Wallabies on Saturday August 27 and again a week later, on September 3 (both venues to be confirmed), before their third away match against Argentina at Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on September 17.

The Boks will conclude their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign with a home Test against Los Pumas at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday September 24.

“It’s exciting to announce such a strong list of Springbok fixtures this season after a successful 2021 season for the team, and I have no doubt that Jacques Nienaber (Springbok coach), his management team and the players will do their best to build on those achievements this season,” said SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux.

“Pending the return of crowds to our Tests and with the Covid-19 pandemic still presenting challenges throughout the world, we understand the fluid nature of match schedules, but it is important for us that the team face quality opposition as we gear up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.”

Nienaber was equally excited about the season and said, “It’s a massive honour to represent our country, and the fact that we will be facing such tough competition this season has certainly sparked excitement among the coaches and the players alike.

“We are well underway with our planning for the year, and our knowledge of these teams after facing all of them last season will be vital as we forge ahead in this regard in the next few months.

“Wales, the All Blacks and Australia tested us well last season, and Argentina have proven to be a force to be reckoned with, both at home and away, so although we are expecting a challenging season, we realise the importance of laying a solid foundation as we build up toward next year’s Rugby World Cup.”

A decision on whether spectators will be allowed at the matches, and if so how many, is yet to be made.

Castle Lager Incoming Series fixtures (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday, 2 July: Springboks v Wales – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.
Saturday, 9 July: Springboks v Wales – Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein.
Saturday, 16 July: Springboks v Wales – DHL Stadium, Cape Town.

Castle Lager Rugby Championship fixtures (kick-off times TBC):
Saturday August 6: Springboks v New Zealand – Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela.
Saturday August 13: Springboks v New Zealand – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg.
Saturday August 27: Springboks v Australia – venue TBC.
Saturday September 3: Springboks v Australia – venue TBC.
Saturday September 17: Springboks v Argentina – Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires.
Saturday September 24: Springboks v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban.