SA Rugby today confirmed the Springbok schedule for 2022, with the Green and Gold machine handed one test at the Cape Town stadium. The same venue that saw them take down the British and Irish Lions in all three tests in 2021.
The Boks will host Wales in a series of three Test matches in July. They will first open their account at Loftus Versfeld, then head to the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. The Springboks will then head down to Cape Town to wrap up the series.
The venues for the two Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounters against Australia is still is yet to be confirmed. However, that third Wales test will be the only one decided in the Mother City.
Kiwi’s in the Kruger
It was confirmed that the Boks will host the All Blacks in August at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, and Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg. After facing the Aussies, the Boks will wrap up the Castle Lager Rugby Championship with two Tests against Argentina.
The South Africans will first head to Buenos Aires on 17 September, before hosting the Pumas at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on 24 September.
🇿🇦 BREAKING! Boks' home schedule for 2022 locked in
3️⃣ Tests against @WelshRugbyUnion in July in Pretoria, Bloem and CT
💥 @AllBlacks return to SA for the first time since 2018
🔗 More here: https://t.co/saIwBY6iG7#StrongerTogether #StrongerForever pic.twitter.com/dbnU1WqYha— Springboks (@Springboks) February 8, 2022
“It’s exciting to announce such a strong list of Springbok fixtures this season after a successful 2021 season for the team, and I have no doubt that Jacques Nienaber (Springbok coach), his management team and the players will do their best to build on those achievements this season,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.
“Pending the return of crowds to our Tests and with the COVID-19 pandemic still presenting challenges throughout the world, we understand the fluid nature of match schedules, but it is important for us that the team face quality opposition as we gear up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.”
A big year for the Boks
Nienaber was equally excited about the Springbok schedule and said: “It’s a massive honour to represent our country, and the fact that we will be facing such tough competition this season has certainly sparked excitement among the coaches and the players alike.
“We are well underway with our planning for the year, and our knowledge of these teams after facing all of them last season will be vital as we forge ahead in this regard in the next few months.
“Wales, the All Blacks and Australia tested us well last season, and Argentina have proven to be a force to be reckoned with, both at home and away. So although we are expecting a challenging season, we realise the importance of laying a solid foundation as we build up toward next year’s Rugby World Cup.”
Castle Lager Incoming Series fixtures (kick-off times TBC):
2 July: Springboks v Wales – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
9 July: Springboks v Wales – Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
16 July: Springboks v Wales – DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Castle Lager Rugby Championship fixtures (kick-off times TBC):
6 August: Springboks v New Zealand – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
13 August: Springboks v New Zealand – Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
27 August: Springboks v Australia – venue TBC
3 September: Springboks v Australia – venue TBC
17 September: Springboks v Argentina – Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
24 September: Springboks v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
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