Springboks to face All Blacks in Auckland and Christchurch for first time since 2016 in full 2027 Rugby Championship

Dave Rennie has inadvertently confirmed the venues for next year's Rugby Championship fixtures between the Springboks and All Blacks, revealing the two Tests will take place in Auckland and Christchurch — the latter a venue South Africa has not played at since 2016, when New Zealand won 41-13 at Christchurch Stadium.

Speaking on Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast show, Rennie disclosed that the opening Rugby Championship clash between the two sides will be held at Eden Park, with the second Test moving to Christchurch's new One NZ Stadium the following week. SANZAAR is yet to officially confirm the schedule, but Rennie's comments align with a likely Round 1 date of 10 July and Round 2 on 17 July — both approximately two weeks after the Super Rugby Pacific final.

Unlike recent World Cup build-up years, 2027 will feature a full Rugby Championship with all four nations meeting twice. South Africa will defend their title after the tournament was suspended this year to accommodate the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, which the Springboks won 3-1.

Based on confirmed and disclosed scheduling across the unions, the tournament picture is taking shape. After their two Tests in New Zealand, the Springboks host Australia for two matches, while Argentina host South Africa for one Test with the other played in South Africa. The Wallabies face Argentina twice in Australia in Rounds 1 and 2, before hosting New Zealand on 31 July — the second Bledisloe Cup match of 2027, with Rugby Australia having confirmed that date. Los Pumas are set to host the All Blacks in the tournament's final two rounds.

Of note on the wider 2027 calendar, the opening Bledisloe Cup Test is scheduled for 25 April in Sydney — the first time in the 123-year history of that fixture that it falls on Anzac Day.

Rennie also acknowledged the likelihood of a Springbok-All Black quarter-final at the World Cup itself, noting that pool configurations could set up that exact scenario: "Likely to meet in a quarter-final if both teams won their pool, which is odd, but it is what it is."