The South African ‘A’ team will make its return to competitive rugby when it faces Zimbabwe in a double-header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 20 June, serving as curtain-raiser to the Springboks’ season opener against the Barbarians.

The SA ‘A’ side has not played since the 2022 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, when it faced Munster and the Bristol Bears. The match against Zimbabwe presents both teams with valuable preparation ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Zimbabwe qualified for the tournament for the first time since 1991, making the encounter a significant test for the Sables as they build towards the global showpiece.

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the match would allow him to assess fringe players and those pushing for selection.

“The match between the SA ‘A’ team and Zimbabwe will serve as a fantastic opportunity for both teams to achieve some of their objectives with the Rugby World Cup in mind,” said Erasmus.

“Players such as Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu), Ruan (Nortje), Grant (Williams), Aphelele (Fassi), and Elrigh (Louw), among others, all played for the team in the early stages of their international careers, and have become important members of our squad since.”

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Zimbabwe coach Pieter Benade welcomed the opportunity to test his squad against quality opposition.

“We’re excited for the opportunity to test ourselves against one of the world’s top rugby nations and a truly elite system,” said Benade. “Experiences like this are invaluable, as they expose our players to the highest level of competition.”

Erasmus, who hails from Despatch in the Eastern Cape, said the double-header would appeal to the province’s rugby supporters. He will celebrate 30 years in the Springbok setup this year, having been called up to the tour of Argentina and Europe as a player in 1996.

The SA ‘A’ match kicks off at 12:00, with the Springboks facing the Barbarians at 15h00.

The Springboks will host their second alignment camp in May, with Erasmus set to name his squad for the official training camp in June. The coach for the SA ‘A’ team will be announced later.

Springbok fixtures in 2026:

International:
Saturday 20 June: Springboks v Barbarians and SA ‘A’ v Zimbabwe (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha)

Nations Championship:
Saturday 4 July: Springboks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July: Springboks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 18 July: Springboks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry:
Saturday 22 August: Springboks v All Blacks (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 29 August: Springboks v All Blacks (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday 5 September: Springboks v All Blacks (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg)
Saturday 12 September: Springboks v All Blacks (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA)

Once-off Tests:
Saturday 8 August: Argentina v Springboks (Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires)
Sunday 27 September: Wallabies v Springboks (Optus Stadium, Perth)

Nations Championship:
Saturday 7 November: Italy v Springboks (Venue TBC)
Friday 13 November: France v Springboks (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Springboks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London)