The Rugby Championship will not be held in 2026 as New Zealand will tour South Africa

Sanzar confirmed that the Rugby Championship will be held in 2028 and 2029 before stopping again in 2030 for a multi-week international tour, likely to be another series between the Springboks and the All Blacks.

Next year, World Rugby launches the Nations Championship, which will be held in the July and November Test windows and feature the world’s leading teams – the Six Nations, their Rugby Championship counterparts and two other invited teams.

“Looking to the future, our joint venture is committed to driving the next chapter of rugby in the Southern Hemisphere,” said Sanzar CEO Brendan Morris.

“After listening to what supporters, broadcasters and our stakeholders wanted, we worked with the unions to craft a bold and dynamic schedule.”

The All Blacks begin their Greatest Rivalry Tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on August 7 and will also play the Sharks, Bulls and Lions along with the four-Test series against the Springboks.

DHL Stadium in Cape Town, FNB Stadium and Ellis Park in Johannesburg are among the South African venues where the fourth Test will be played at a neutral international venue, which will be confirmed in the coming months.

“This fierce rivalry between two very proud nations has provided more than a century of drama on rugby pitches around the world, including two Rugby World Cup finals,” said Ryan Oberholzer, Chief Executive of Rugby South Africa.

“Today’s announcement promises more drama, physicality, strategy and unpredictability in a competition considered one of the most intense sports in the world.”