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Cue the royal trumpets and let your Soul Glo shine, rugby royalty is officially “Coming to America”. Unlike Prince Akeem, who was looking for love in America, the Springboks are set to face the All Blacks in a Fourth Test in the highly anticipated ‘Greatest Rivalry Tour.’
It is confirmed: The 2026 edition of "Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry" will conclude with a historic fourth and final Test in Baltimore, Maryland. The two teams will face off at the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, 12th September.
The Springboks will return to the US for only the third time in the modern era. The All Blacks have plenty of experience to draw on; the men in black have played in the US three times over the last three years. The All Blacks famously lined up against Ireland at Chicago’s Soldier Field. They also took on Fiji in San Diego in 2024 and the USA in Washington, D.C. in 2021. With the US hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2031, both sides see the value in establishing a rugby foothold in the United States.
In their last US outing against Ireland, 62,000 fans watched the All Blacks get their revenge in Chicago with a 26-13 win. More importantly for NZ rugby, this was their highest revenue from a Test match since the Lions tour in New Zealand.
The Test match at M&T Bank Stadium will be the culmination of a tour that includes all four of South Africa’s franchise teams taking on the All Blacks and three Test Matches in South Africa.
Fans will also get to witness a double header in Johannesburg between the Black Ferns and Springbok Women before the tour heads to the US.
World Rugby and its member unions are mindful of showcasing the best of the game with the Rugby World Cup on the horizon.
“Taking the Springboks to new audiences and territories is a key objective for South African rugby and the opportunity to do so in a ground-breaking match against our fiercest rivals was a major determinant in where the fourth Test would be played,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“With fans getting the opportunity to see the Boks in action against the All Blacks in three home Tests, the chance to share the excitement in the US is an exciting one, compounded by the fact that both men’s and women’s Rugby World Cup will be heading to the US in a few years' time.”
“While the All Blacks have played in the USA often in the past, the Boks have only played there twice this millennium, and we’re very excited to take them to Baltimore and engage with a developing rugby ecosystem”, he added.
Interim CEO of New Zealand Rugby, Steve Lancaster enthusiastic about his side returning to the US.
“Having the opportunity to once again play in the US, less than a year after our last game, is exciting for the All Blacks and for New Zealand Rugby. The US is an important market for us and for rugby more broadly, as we look ahead to the Rugby World Cup 2031. This will mark the fourth time the team has played in the US in five years, so it’s great to be in another new city to show sports fans the spectacle and excitement of rugby.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin added, “Partnering with unions to bring world-class content to key US cities is at the heart of the sport’s strategy to grow the market on the road to hosting men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in the US in 2031 and 33.”
“There are few bigger rivalries than New Zealand v South Africa, and to be able to showcase the best of our sport in Baltimore, one of 27 super-engaged cities and regions in the Rugby World Cup hosting process, is an exciting prospect, inspiring more sports fans in the US to fall in love with rugby.”
Tickets for the tour are expected to go on sale in February.
Friday 7 August: DHL Stormers v All Blacks, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Tuesday 11 August: Hollywoodbets Sharks v All Blacks, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Saturday 15 August: Vodacom Bulls v All Blacks, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Saturday 22 August: Springboks v All Blacks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Tuesday 25 August: Lions v All Blacks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Saturday 29 August: Springboks v All Blacks, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Saturday 5 September: Springbok Women v Black Ferns, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday 5 September: Springboks v All Blacks, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Saturday 12 September: Springboks v All Blacks, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA