How to Watch Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour 2026

The All Blacks traveled to South Africa to face the Springboks in what is being billed as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry. Fans were encouraged to follow every moment of the action during this highly anticipated series. The tour marks New Zealand’s first visit to South Africa since 1996, when the All Blacks triumphed 2-1 in a three-Test series. However, the current competition could prove much tougher for New Zealand, who are ranked second in the world against South Africa's formidable side, currently holding the top position.

The dates for Rugby's Greatest Rivalry were set for August 7 to September 12, 2026. Fans in the United States were provided a free livestream option through RugbyPass TV, while Sky Sports (UK and Ireland), SuperSport (South Africa), Sky Sport NZ (New Zealand), Stan Sport (Australia), and Wowow (Japan) also had official broadcasting rights.

As world champions, South Africa not only possessed a remarkable winning streak of 13 consecutive games but also entered the series with the confidence of being the Rugby Championship holders. New Zealand's new head coach, Dave Rennie, looked to maintain his team's scoring momentum following three victories in the Nations Championship and faced the enormous challenge of playing the Springboks away from home.

Fans were reminded that they could access various streaming services through VPNs if traveling to different locations during the series. The UK and Ireland fans benefited from Sky Sports coverage, including options such as Sky Go. South African viewers enjoyed action on SuperSport, and in New Zealand, a subscription to Sky Sport Now or complimentary day passes allowed fans to watch the matches. Stan Sport similarly held the streaming rights in Australia, while Premier Sports covered the event in Canada. Japan’s coverage was provided by Wowow.

The opening match was set for August 7, 2026, with the All Blacks facing the Stormers at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, followed by fixtures against the Sharks and Bulls, and the highly anticipated first Test against South Africa on August 22 at Ellis Park.