Rugbe news
The good stories from around the game, your stories.
Four home, six in, and Richie Mo'unga back in black
The South African tour has cost the All Blacks four players sent home and an ankle infection that ended Anton Segner's trip on the eve of the first Test. It has also brought Richie Mo'unga back into the jersey for the first time since the 2023 World Cup final, and handed two uncapped players a debut.
26 August 2026
Du Toit's 100th, Nche's 50th, Pollard back at 10: the Boks reload for Cape Town
Pieter-Steph du Toit captains South Africa in his 100th Test on Saturday and Ox Nche brings up his 50th. Handre Pollard returns at first five, Cheslin Kolbe is out injured, and Rassie Erasmus says his hurting side has to play smarter after losing the first Test 33-16.
26 August 2026
Down 35-17 with half an hour left: All Blacks 41, Lions 35
The All Blacks were 14-0 down inside seven minutes and 35-17 behind in the 47th, then scored the last four tries to beat the Lions 41-35 at Ellis Park and finish the tour with a clean sweep of all four South African franchises.
25 August 2026
Ellis Park, and a streak ended: All Blacks 33, Springboks 16
New Zealand went to Ellis Park as underdogs, trailed at halftime, and then produced their biggest ever win at the ground to draw first blood in the four-Test series. Twelve straight Springbok Test wins, over.
22 August 2026
Thirty years on: what the 1996 tour of South Africa tells us about this one
In 1996 the All Blacks did what five previous touring sides could not, winning a series in South Africa for the first time. Three decades later they are back for a full tour, and the venues, the calendar and even the arguments have a familiar ring.
16 August 2026
Fifty at Loftus: All Blacks finish the build-up in style, 50-19
New Zealand passed its last examination before the test series with a 50-19 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, a 24-0 halftime lead setting up doubles for Josh Moorby, Leroy Carter and captain Codie Taylor.
15 August 2026
Clinical in the wet: All Blacks blank the Sharks 54-0 in Durban
A much-changed All Blacks side ran in eight tries to shut out the Sharks 54-0 in wet conditions in Durban, with Luke Jacobson leading from the front and Jordie Barrett scoring the pick of the night.
11 August 2026
Tour opener: All Blacks edge a gutsy Stormers 38-21 in Cape Town
New Zealand kicked off Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour with a 38-21 win over the Stormers at a packed DHL Stadium, their first tour victory on South African soil in 30 years, though it took four late tries to shake off a stubborn home side.
7 August 2026
All Blacks name 44-strong squad for the Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa
Dave Rennie has picked three uncapped bolters and welcomed back a swag of familiar faces for an eight-match, six-week adventure in South Africa, headlined by a four-Test series against the Springboks.
27 July 2026
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: All Blacks Face Four Springbok Tests, One in Baltimore
The All Blacks' 2026 centrepiece is a four-test series against the Springboks in South Africa, capped by a historic first meeting on US soil in Baltimore.
22 July 2026