Cape Town’s streets welcomed some familiar faces on Thursday as members of the All Blacks were spotted exploring the V&A Waterfront ahead of what promises to be one of the biggest rugby tours in recent history, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The New Zealand side has officially arrived in South Africa to begin an eight-match journey that revives one of world rugby’s greatest traditions. It marks the first full All Blacks tour of South Africa in three decades, reigniting a rivalry that has captivated fans for generations.
For rugby supporters, the excitement begins in Cape Town before a single ball has even been kicked.
The All Blacks will receive an official welcome at DHL Stadium on Friday, 31 July, where fans have been invited to attend a free public event celebrating the start of the tour.
Running from 1pm to 3:30pm, the event gives supporters the chance to see the New Zealand squad up close before they begin their demanding schedule across South Africa. While admission is free, tickets are limited.
The open welcome is expected to draw rugby fans from across the city eager to catch a glimpse of one of the sport’s most iconic teams.
The tour begins where many hoped it would, in the Mother City.
A week after the welcome event, the All Blacks will face the Stormers at DHL Stadium in what is expected to be a packed encounter.
From there, the tourists travel to Durban to meet the Sharks before taking on the Bulls in Pretoria. Those provincial clashes will be followed by the opening Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
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The second and third Tests will be played at Cape Town Stadium and FNB Stadium, before the tour concludes with a fourth Test in Baltimore in the United States.
While much of the attention will focus on the Test series, South Africa’s provincial sides have plenty of motivation of their own.
No South African provincial team has beaten the All Blacks on home soil since the famous 1976 tour, a record that has stood for half a century.
When New Zealand last completed a full tour of South Africa in 1996, they remained unbeaten in their provincial fixtures, winning three matches and drawing one before going on to secure their first-ever Test series victory in South Africa.
That history adds extra significance to the upcoming clashes against the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions, each hoping to end a decades-long drought.
One of the most anticipated moments of the tour won’t involve a single tackle.
For the first time in 30 years, supporters across South Africa will once again witness the All Blacks perform their famous haka before matches against the country’s leading provincial teams.
It is a tradition that has become synonymous with New Zealand rugby and one that is expected to create unforgettable scenes in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg.
With the squad already soaking up the sights around Cape Town’s Waterfront and anticipation building ahead of Friday’s public welcome, the countdown to one of rugby’s most eagerly awaited tours is officially underway. After a 30-year wait, one of sport’s greatest rivalries has returned to South African soil.
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