ALL BLACKS KOM KAAP TOE

SOUTHERN hemisphere governing body Sanzaar on Thursday ended speculation about the Rugby Championship’s future, confirming the four-nation tournament will be staged in 2027, 2028 and 2029, but not next year.

New Zealand are set to travel to South Africa in 2026 for a series billed as the “Greatest Rivalry” – the first traditional tour involving rugby union’s historic superpowers for three decades.

Fixtures are scheduled from 7 August to 12 September, with the quadrennial tour kicking off with a Friday clash against the Stormers innie Kaap. The final Test will take place at FNB Stadium on 5 September, while Ellis Park (22 August) will host the opening Test and Cape Town Stadium (29 August) will stage the second encounter.

A fourth Test, at an international venue still to be confirmed, is also on the cards. The Springboks will reciprocate the tour in 2030.

A new Nations Cup is also being launched, bringing together the European teams that make up the Six Nations, the four spanne in the Rugby Championship and most likely Japan and Fiji.

That tournament will also be played in 2028 and 2030, Sanzaar said.

It means no room for a Rugby Championship between Australia, New Zealand, the Boks and Argentina next year.

But Sanzaar said it would be back in 2027, the year of the World Cup in Australia, before another break in 2030.

Siya Kolisi’s Boks won the Rugby Championship this year.