Rugby fever hits SA with arrival of All Blacks: ‘A celebration of history, tradition’

A 30-year wait for rugby’s greatest rivals to resume touring came to an end this week, as the All Blacks arrived in South Africa to kick off an eight-match odyssey.

The tour begins with a Welcome to Country event at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, a week before the All Blacks face the Stormers at the same venue.

Matches against the Sharks and Bulls will follow, leading into the first Test at Ellis Park, before a final midweek clash with the Lions.

Tests at Cape Town Stadium and FNB Stadium round out the South African leg before the tour party heads to Baltimore, USA, for a fourth and final Test.

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For the local teams, the incentive is historic: no South African provincial side has beaten the All Blacks on home soil since the 1976 tour, when Orange Free State – now called the Cheetahs – claimed a famous 15-10 victory in September of that year.

Earlier on the 1976 tour, the All Blacks also lost to Northern Transvaal (29-27) and Western Province (12-11).

“Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is more than a contest between two proud nations; it is a celebration of history, tradition and the enduring spirit of the game,” SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said in a statement on Thursday.

“Each encounter between South Africa and New Zealand carries with it the weight of decades of competition, respect and shared excellence.

“This rivalry has produced moments that have defined rugby itself, battles of skill, courage and resilience that inspire generations of players and supporters alike. It is a fixture that transcends sport, uniting communities and reminding us of rugby’s power to connect people across borders.

“As custodians of the game, we honour this