The SA 'A' side will make its return to international rugby for the first time since the 2022 Outgoing Tour when they face Zimbabwe's Sables on June 20 in Gqeberha, in a curtain-raiser to the Springboks' match against the Barbarians at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The fixture gives Rassie Erasmus a formal mechanism to assess fringe players and those outside his current rotation group ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle. Zimbabwe, who have already secured their place at that tournament, will use the clash as preparation for the global event.
"There are others who have performed really well outside of that group, who we would like to see in action, so we'll be able to cast our net wider as we prepare for that encounter," said Erasmus, pointing to the SA 'A' platform's track record in surfacing Test-ready talent. He cited Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ruan Nortje, Grant Williams, Aphelele Fassi, and Elrigh Louw as players who used the 'A' team as a springboard into the senior squad.
Zimbabwe head coach Pieter Benadie welcomed the challenge, describing the exposure as "invaluable" for his squad's development and World Cup preparations.
Erasmus flagged the Eastern Cape's dual-match weekend as a significant occasion for the region's supporters. The Springboks' second alignment camp is scheduled for May, with the squad for the official June training camp to be named thereafter. A coach for the SA 'A' side will be confirmed in due course.