The excitement is palpable as the Springbok Rugby team prepares for the 2025 season, having recently announced the venues for their home Test matches. The reigning back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions will engage fans across five provinces, making the anticipated fixtures accessible to supporters throughout South Africa.
The Springboks will kick off their season against Italy on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. This match is significant as it marks Italy’s first visit to South Africa since 2013 and will be their first test on Gauteng soil.
One week later, on July 12, the teams will face off once again at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. This match also holds historic weight, as it will be the Springboks' return to Gqeberha since their last appearance during the COVID pandemic, where they played behind closed doors against Argentina.
The Castle Lager Incoming Series will conclude on July 19, with the Springboks taking on Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. This encounter will only be the third meeting between the two nations, with their previous matches held during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and again in Pretoria in 2021.
The excitement doesn’t stop there! The Springboks will begin their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title defense with two home matches against Australia, the first at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, on August 16, and the second at DHL Stadium, Cape Town, on August 23. Following these competitive fixtures, the Springboks will face the All Blacks in New Zealand on September 6 and September 13 before returning for their final home test against Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban, on September 27. Their season will wrap up with another away match against Argentina, this time at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, on October 4.
These confirmed venues have sparked excitement not only among fans but also within the Springbok coaching team. Head coach Rassie Erasmus highlighted the importance of venue confirmation, stating, "The confirmation of the Test venues always gives us peace of mind from a coaching and management perspective because it means we can step up our planning, and it also boosts the excitement from the public for the season." He expressed anticipation for the return to Gqeberha, indicating the team's familiarity and enjoyment of the passionate support they receive from home crowds.
Further emphasizing the significance of spreading the matches across provinces, SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer stated, "All six home Tests will be played at top-class venues, and we are pleased to see the Boks run out in five different provinces. The team enjoys a lot of support throughout the country – we had more than 300,000 fans at our home Tests last year – and by spreading out the matches, hopefully it allows as many people as possible to see them live in action."
With ticket sales details set to be announced soon, the anticipation for the matches only grows. The Springboks, having previously played at these venues and knowing them well, are eager to build on their success and continue to enthrall fans across all corners of South Africa. The coming season promises to be challenging yet thrilling, with head coach Erasmus stating, "We are already at an advanced stage of our planning from a coaching, logistics, and operations perspective, and it’s exciting to see how everything is coming together."
With the matches planned for five different provinces, the Springboks look forward to providing opportunities for passionate supporters to witness their national team live. The announcement of these venues marks the beginning of what is sure to be another unforgettable season for South African rugby.
Springbok home fixtures for 2025 are as follows:
Castle Lager Incoming Series: July 5 - SA vs Italy at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
July 12 - SA vs Italy at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
July 19 - SA vs Georgia at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Castle Lager Rugby Championship: August 16 - SA vs Australia at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
August 23 - SA vs Australia at DHL Stadium, Cape Town
September 27 - SA vs Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
With the Springboks gearing up for these thrilling matches, fans can anticipate explosive rugby action throughout the 2025 season.