After an 18 month absence from test rugby, the Springboks are bulking up their fixture list for 2021 with tests slowly being confirmed for the World Champions. A proposal was on the table to play the All Blacks in Dubai as a warm up test before the Lions tour in what would have been the 100th test between the two sides. The red tape proving too much of a hurdle in the end.
With tests against Japan and the USA also falling flat due to quarantine regulations, the Springboks were desperate for opposition to fine tune their preparations ahead of the test series. 12th ranked Georgia has come to the rescue and the sides will square off in two back to back tests in early July. Their only previous encounter was in 2003 at the Rugby World Cup during the pool stages.
The Springboks are also set to take part in the Rugby Championship, featuring the All Blacks, Argentina and Australia after missing out on the tournament last year. Having won the competition in 2019 they will be eager to make their mark there amidst mumblings from the kiwi media about their number 1 ranking.
The autumn internationals window is also on the cards and the Springboks have so far confirmed a test against Scotland, who haven't beaten the men in green in 11 years, with the last match between the sides coming in 2018 with the Springboks edging the match 26 points to 20. The tour will mark the first time the Bokke go to the Northern Hemisphere since 2018.
Here are your confirmed fixtures
SA v GEORGIA - 03 July 2021
SA v GEORGIA - 10 July 2021
SA v British and Irish Lions - 24 July 2021
SA v British and Irish Lions - 31 July 2021
SA v British and Irish Lions - 07 August 2021
Rugby Championship - dates to be confirmed
SA v TBC - 06 November 2021
SA v SCOTLAND - 13 November 2021
SA v TBC - 20 November 2021
hopefully these fixtures actually take place. Still yet to hear from BI Lions organizers about the tickets i already purchased to the game which seems to no longer be taking place in Nelspruit!