Springboks to Face Australia in Perth Test

Boks to take on Babaas, Aussies in 2026

South Africa adds one-off test against Australia in Perth to busy 2026 schedule, including Nations Championship and New Zealand series.

South Africa will officially kick off their season on July 4, hosting England at Ellis Park in the Nations Championship...

The Springboks are gearing up for an exciting 2026 season! They'll face the Barbarians, led by Scott Robertson and Felipe Contepomi, in a warm-up match in Gqeberha on June 20, before taking on Australia in a one-off test in Perth on September 27.

This test against Australia will be a tough one, as it's part of their preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The Springboks will also be involved in the finals weekend of the new Nations Championship in London. With 11 scheduled tests, including matches against England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Italy, France, and Ireland, it's shaping up to be a busy season.

The #Springboks will kick off their 2026 season against the @Barbarian_FC in Gqeberha on Saturday, 20 June, two weeks before the inaugural Nations Championship kicks off against England at Ellis Park - more here: https://t.co/Q9zoeAiLxp ⚫⚪💚💛#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/JjRmpJ8TfF

— Springboks (@Springboks) February 24, 2026

The Barbarians game in Gqeberha on June 20 is not an official test, but will be used by coach Rassie Erasmus to fine-tune ahead of the international season. He previously used a similar match in Cape Town in 2025 to prep the team, resulting in a 54-7 Springboks win.

South Africa will officially kick off their season on July 4, hosting England at Ellis Park in the Nations Championship. They'll then face Scotland and Wales at home on consecutive weekends.

Erasmus' side has a packed schedule, hosting New Zealand for three tests in August and September as part of the “Rugby's Greatest Rivalry” tour. The teams will then head to Baltimore, United States for a fourth fixture on September 12.

The Springboks will face Australia in Perth two weeks after the New Zealand series.

They'll then head into the Nations Championship, playing Italy, France, and Ireland. Their final standings will decide their opponent on finals weekend, November 27-29.

Springbok fixtures 2026:

Non-Test International:

Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha)

Nations Championship:

Saturday 4 July: Springboks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Saturday 11 July: Springboks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

Saturday 18 July: Springboks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

 

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry:

Saturday 22 August: Springboks v All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Saturday 29 August: Springboks v All Blacks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)

Saturday 5 September: Springboks v All Blacks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)

Saturday 12 September: Springboks v All Blacks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)

One-off Test:

Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)

Nations Championship:

Saturday 7 November: Italy v Springboks (Venue TBC)

Friday 13 November: France v Springboks (Stade de France, Paris)

Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Springboks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)

Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London)