One of world sport’s fiercest rivalries is set for a landmark moment in 2026 as the Springboks and All Blacks prepare to face off on American soil for the first time in their storied history, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The clash will take place in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the final chapter of the four-yearly Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry touring series between the two giants of the game.
Scheduled for Saturday, 12 September 2026, the match will be staged at the 71,000-seat M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, and will represent only the Springboks’ third visit to the United States this millennium. It also serves as the fourth and decisive Test of the tour, following three encounters between South Africa and New Zealand in South Africa, as well as fixtures involving New Zealand and South Africa’s four franchise teams.
The tour will also include a high-profile double-header in Johannesburg featuring the Black Ferns and the Springbok Women, underlining the growing emphasis on both the men’s and women’s game before the focus shifts to the United States.
While the All Blacks are no strangers to American audiences, having played recent matches in Chicago, San Diego and Washington DC against teams including Ireland, Fiji and the USA, South Africa’s appearances have been far rarer. The Springboks last featured in the US when they faced Wales in Washington DC in 2018, following an earlier meeting with the USA in Houston in 2001.
The decision to bring the rivalry to Baltimore forms part of a broader strategy by SA Rugby, New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby to expand the sport’s footprint in the United States ahead of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups, set to be hosted there in 2031 and 2033. Baltimore is among the cities involved in the World Cup hosting process, making it a strategic choice for a showcase Test.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer said taking the Springboks into new markets was a major factor in selecting the venue, especially given the scale of the rivalry. He added that while South African fans will see the Boks face New Zealand three times at home, sharing the spectacle with a growing US rugby audience was an exciting opportunity.
New Zealand Rugby interim CEO Steve Lancaster echoed those sentiments, describing the United States as a key market for the sport’s future. He noted that the Baltimore Test would be the All Blacks’ fourth appearance in the US in five years and highlighted the chance to introduce rugby, and the haka, to a new city.
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said showcasing elite international fixtures in major US markets is central to the sport’s long-term growth strategy. He added that few rivalries compare to New Zealand versus South Africa, making Baltimore an ideal stage to captivate new fans.
Ravens president Sashi Brown welcomed the event, praising M&T Bank Stadium’s world-class status and its partnership with the State of Maryland. He said hosting such an iconic rugby fixture reinforces Baltimore’s position as a global sporting destination, with the match expected to draw fans from across the US and abroad while delivering a significant economic boost to the city.
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