Katlego Sekhu

The back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks, will kick off their 2025 season with a home Test against Italy at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 5 July. This marks Italy’s first visit to South Africa since 2013 and their first-ever fixture in Gauteng.
A week later, on Saturday, 12 July, the two teams will meet again at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, where they last played in 2001. The Boks’ last appearance at this venue was in 2021, during two closed-door Tests against Argentina due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The Castle Lager Incoming Series will conclude with a Test against Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday, 19 July.
This will be only the third encounter between the sides, following matches in Sydney during the 2003 Rugby World Cup and in Pretoria in 2021, the latter also played without fans due to the pandemic.
The Boks will then defend their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title, starting with back-to-back Tests against Australia at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg (16 August) and DHL Stadium in Cape Town (23 August). They will travel to New Zealand for Tests against the All Blacks in Auckland (6 September) and Wellington (13 September) before returning to South Africa for their final home Test against Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on 27 September. The away leg against Argentina will take place a week later at Twickenham in London.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expressed excitement about the Test venues, saying they have added to the anticipation for the 2025 season.
“The confirmation of the Test venues always gives us peace of mind from a coaching and management team perspective because it means we can step up our planning, and it also boosts the excitement from the public for the season,” said Erasmus.
“We have played at most of these venues in the last few years and we know them well, although it will be particularly exciting to return to Gqeberha for the first time since 2021.
“We thoroughly enjoy the passionate support we receive from our home crowds throughout the country, and we have no doubt we will enjoy great support at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium once again – this time in a packed stadium, which we last experienced in the Eastern Cape in 2018 against Australia.”
Springbok home fixtures in 2025:
Castle Lager Incoming Series:
5 July: SA v Italy – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12 July: SA v Italy – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
19 July: SA v Georgia – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
16 August: SA v Australia – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
23 August: SA v Australia – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
27 September: SA v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
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