Rugby’s ‘Greatest Rivalry’ gets bigger with confirmation of money-spinning fourth test

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

The All Blacks-Boks rugby rivalry is set to get a massive boost with the introduction of four-yearly full tours.

Rugby’s ‘Greatest Rivalry’ is set to make a massive splash in 2026, with confirmation the groundbreaking, and throwback, three-test tour between the All Blacks and Springboks in South Africa will be backed up by a money-spinning fourth international at a neutral venue.

With reports emerging out of South Africa speculating on aspects of the reconstituted tour agreement between the two great rugby nations, New Zealand Rugby have confirmed to The Post negotiations are progressing rapidly on the revived tour concept.

“NZR is working closely with South Africa on ‘The Greatest Rivalry’, which kicks off in 2026,” the organisation said. “The tour will include four test matches against the Springboks and we are exploring playing one test at a neutral venue. More details will be confirmed in the coming months.”

The two unions have been working on the tour reintroduction for some years now, though the add-on fourth international is a more recent wrinkle. It will be the first time the two great rivals have squared off over four tests since 1996 when John Hart’s All Blacks won a series in the republic for the first time in the nation’s history.

Once NZ Rugby and their South African counterparts started getting their heads around the commercial viability of the four-yearly event, which they believe will capture huge global attention under the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ banner, the chance to add on a money-spinning extra matchup became a no-brainer.

Scott Barrett and the All Blacks fell to a fourth straight test defeat at the hands of the Springboks in Cape Town last year.

South African media have speculated the fourth test next year could be played in either the United States or the UK, though The Post understands that the add-on international is more likely to be staged in London where it would probably fill a stadium such as Twickenham with the large expat population in that part of the world.

The UK also fits in snugly with South Africa in terms of time-zones.

It’s understood the additional fourth match will become part of the tour agreement between the two nations, with an extra match also to be played following South Africa’s three-test tour to New Zealand in 2030.

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor battles the Boks in the second Rugby Championship clash in Cape Town last year.

It is early days at present in terms of where that match might be played, though NZR will be exploring opportunities in the US, UK, Japan and even the Middle-East with its growing interest in major sporting events.

Both NZR and their South African counterparts are understood to be hugely excited about initial projections for the revived tours. There are strong hopes in both organisations that it will become at least as big an event as the British and Irish Lions tour, with similar financial spinoffs.

The fourth match is likely to bring in significant revenue with the ability to add commercial partners, global broadcasters and fill huge stadiums. Revenue for both nations would be in the millions of dollars.

The all-conquering Springboks are not only champions of the world, but also of the Rugby Championship.

The ‘Greatest Rivalry’ concept came about as the two nations looked to re-engage after South Africa’s messy exit from Super Rugby. It’s long been considered by both countries that full tours were a worthy concept, and an easy sell given the strength of both the Boks and All Blacks on the global scene.

South Africa have won the last two World Cups and captured last year’s Rugby Championship after sweeping the New Zealanders in South Africa and extending their winning streak against the All Blacks to four matches.

It is understood the unions are looking at a six to eight-week tour next year that will include midweek games and early weekend fixtures against professional franchises. It is hoped to attract the interest of significant numbers of touring fans, much like the Lions do with their hefty contingent of supporters.

It has been a delicate process for the New Zealand and South African unions to get the tours over the line with their Sanzaar partners from Australia and Argentina because of the impact on the Rugby Championship which would not be staged in years the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ plays out.

It’s understood discussions are also advanced around the potential for both Australia and Argentina to also be involved in their own extended tours as interntional schedules are hammered out.

International rugby will already undertake somewhat of a remake next year with the introduction of the Nations Championship which will formalise the internationals played in the July and November international windows. Talks formalising the new competition are understood to be at an advanced stage.

The hope, especially from New Zealand and Australia, is that the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ will become an integral part of the international calendar with the sort of revenue generation and fan interest reserved only previously for Lions tours and World Cups.