Springboks return to Eden Park targeting All Blacks' unbeaten run

By Cameron McMillan

The Springboks play at Eden Park for the first time in 12 years in a highly anticipated return to New Zealand soil, with the All Blacks domestic schedule released today.

The Rugby World Cup winners have played just once in New Zealand since 2019, a 35-20 defeat at Mt Smart Stadium, and will be a huge threat to end the All Blacks' 50-test run at Eden Park when they clash on September 27.

South Africa have won the last four tests against the All Blacks, including the 2023 World Cup final, but haven’t tasted victory at Eden Park since 1937.

The All Blacks will open the season with three tests against France in Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton in July. New Zealand Rugby had been considering taking one of the French tests to the USA but the French Rugby Union was reportedly against the idea.

The domestic season will also feature a Black Ferns-All Blacks double-header at Sky Stadium in Wellington as part of a schedule that features nine matches across Aotearoa.

The Black Ferns Rugby World Cup build-up includes three home tests starting in Christchurch against world No.2 Canada.

The All Blacks and Black Ferns will come together in Wellington on July 12 where the World Cup champions put the O’Reilly Cup on the line against Australia at 4.30pm and the All Blacks play the second of their three test July series against France at 7.05pm.

France visits New Zealand for the first time in seven years and will pick up where they left off in 2018, at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin before heading to Sky Stadium in Wellington for the second test of the series. The potential decider will be an historic occasion with France playing a test in Hamilton for the first time since first touring New Zealand in 1961.

The All Blacks Rugby Championship schedule features back-to-back Freedom Cup tests against South Africa at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday September 6 and Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday September 13 before finishing back at Eden Park on Saturday September 27 for an afternoon Bledisloe Cup clash that kicks off at 5.05pm.

“Playing at home and representing your country in front of New Zealanders is always special and especially so against three of our most traditional rivals. France, South Africa and Australia will each bring unique challenges and that’s exciting for us as we continue to build our game in 2025,” All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said.

The full Rugby Championship has yet to be revealed but the All Blacks will begin the tournament with two tests in Argentina on August 16 and August 23, likely played in Mendoza and Buenos Aires. They end the Rugby Championship in Perth on October 4 for the second Bledisloe Cup game.

The All Blacks are understood to be finishing the year out with a Grand Slam tour including the clash against Ireland in Chicago, with details to be confirmed.

Black Ferns to host Canada, USA and Australia

With the 2025 Rugby World Cup in August the Black Ferns domestic schedule takes on extra significance with two Pacific Four Series Tests in May against defending champions Canada and USA, at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch and North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, before rounding out their home schedule against the Wallaroos in the Capital.

All three Black Ferns tests will feature family-friendly kick off times with the Pacific Four Series at 3.35pm and the O’Reilly Cup test at 4.30pm.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than a World Cup year, but the foundations of our year will be laid here in Aotearoa with the support of our fans, friends and whānau. Australia, Canada and USA will be crucial tests and the double-header in Wellington will be a fitting finale to our domestic schedule,” Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting said.

All Blacks domestic schedule

July Series
France, Saturday July 5, 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
France, Saturday July 12, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
France, Saturday July 19, 7.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship
South Africa, Saturday September 6, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland, Freedom Cup
South Africa, Saturday September 13, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington, Freedom Cup Australia, Saturday September 27, 5.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland, Bledisloe Cup

Black Ferns domestic schedule

Pacific Four Series
Canada, Saturday May 17, 3.35pm, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
USA, Saturday May 24, 3.35pm, North Harbour Stadium, Albany

O’Reilly Cup
Australia, Saturday July 12, 4.30pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission