Bold reality check: women’s rugby is stepping onto the biggest stage yet, and the world is watching how far the game has come—and how far it still has to go. The Springbok Women are set to face New Zealand’s Black Ferns in an official Test in South Africa next year, a milestone that underscores the rapid growth and rising competitiveness of women’s rugby.
Here’s what you need to know. The match, scheduled for 5 September at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, will be the first official Test between these two nations hosted in South Africa. It will also serve as a curtain-raiser to the highly anticipated third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the Springboks and All Blacks.
Beyond the Johannesburg double-header, the Springboks and All Blacks will meet at Ellis Park on 22 August and Cape Town Stadium on 29 August, with a fourth Test at an as-yet-unconfirmed venue on 12 September. This expanded tour elevates the overall spectacle and gives fans more opportunities to witness high-stakes rugby across both men’s and women’s teams.
Historically, the Springbok Women’s recent meetings with the Black Ferns include a Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in England last September, where New Zealand won 46-17 after a tight 10-10 halftime score. Earlier in the year, South Africa hosted a Black Ferns XV at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. Those non-Tests ended 34-26 and 41-24 in favor of New Zealand, but they helped set the stage for official Test-level progress.
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer framed the news as part of a broader push to elevate women’s rugby: the growth of the women’s game mirrors the success of traditional Springbok, Junior Springbok, and Blitzbok teams, and the 2025 season’s results have shown tangible returns on investment. He highlighted the historic nature of the upcoming South Africa–New Zealand clash as a milestone for women’s rugby in the country.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson echoed the sentiment, stating that the double-header dramatically amplifies what’s already poised to be a landmark tour. He emphasized the value of offering fans richer experiences and deeper engagement with rugby’s storied rivalries, while the shared ambition to showcase traditional tour virtues remains central.
Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin described the Test as a monumental opportunity for his players. He stressed that facing the Black Ferns, in a prominent double-header just ahead of the men’s big clash, will be a true test of the team’s progress as they begin the next World Cup cycle.
As anticipation builds, this event invites rugby followers to consider a provocative question: With expanding opportunities for women’s international rugby, will such marquee fixtures become the new norm in major tour calendars? Share your thoughts on whether this level of integration—women’s Tests alongside the most celebrated rivalries—should become standard practice in international rugby calendars.
