BOKS-ALL BLACKS THRILLER COULD BE HEADED TO THE USA
The long-standing rivalry between the South African Springboks and New Zealand All Blacks, often dubbed Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, might take an exciting new turn by being decided on American soil later this year.
What was originally announced as a four-Test series in South Africa is now poised to see its climactic final match staged in the United States of America. This stunning move could help grow rugby’s global footprint ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the USA.
In October 2025, SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby confirmed the return of traditional tours between the nations for 2026, reviving a historic four-Test schedule that hasn’t happened since the mid-1990s.
The first three Tests are locked in at South African venues, Ellis Park, Cape Town Stadium, and FNB Stadium, but the fourth and final Test was initially left without a home.
Recent reports now suggest that rugby officials from both unions are close to an agreement to take that finale to the USA, with Ireland’s Croke Park and London’s Twickenham also once considered.
A Stateside game would almost certainly sell out, especially given recent success hosting big-name internationals there. The All Blacks and Ireland packed Chicago’s Soldier Field last November for a mid-autumn clash, drawing massive crowds.
Rugby insiders say that staging the decisive clash in America could be a strategic masterstroke, cementing interest in a non-traditional rugby market while delivering one of the sport’s most electric matchups to an entirely new audience.
Image credit: Planet Rugby