Rugby
Erasmus eyes depth as Boks prepare for marathon 2026 campaign─── MORGAN PIEK 10:38 Thu, 29 Jan 2026
The Springboks are gearing up for another bumper year in 2026, with a demanding schedule of 13 confirmed Test matches, headlined by four mouth-watering showdowns against the All Blacks.
It’s set to be a landmark season for the world champions, who will also compete in two brand-new competitions – the inaugural Nations Cup, as well as the highly anticipated Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series against New Zealand, which will be staged across South Africa and the USA.
The Boks’ season gets underway in July with the launch of the Nations Cup, where they will host England, Scotland, and Wales in their opening three Tests of the year.
Tony Brown. Photo: Morgan Piek
While the four-Test clash against the All Blacks looms large, the immediate focus is firmly on England, who will tour South Africa for the first time since 2018. On that occasion, the Boks edged the series after wins at Ellis Park (42–39) and the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein (23–12), despite a loss at Newlands (25–10).
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus believes building squad depth will be vital as the team navigates a packed calendar, especially with the 2027 Rugby World Cup drawing closer.
“With all these competitions, we’re excited – there are two new ones, the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series and the Nations Cup.”
“It’s only 18 months out from the World Cup when we start playing, so we need to make sure we have enough depth and quality experience in the squad.”
Erasmus acknowledged the challenge posed by England, who arrive in red-hot form. “First up is England, and that’s going to be tough – they’ve won ten games in a row.
“We always go out wanting to win every match, but we may have to adapt along the way, hopefully not losing games, while still building for the next World Cup. So it’s a bit of a juggling act.”
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Photo: Morgan Piek
The Bok coach said he is keeping a close eye on players performing at franchise level, including younger talents, as well as experienced players rediscovering form.
“There are guys who’ve found their form again, and others who are stepping up into leadership roles.
“We have a succession plan and clear expectations for different players. Some are only really hitting their straps now, and with 13 Tests in 2026, we’ll only truly know by the end of the year who’s ready to make the step up.”
The Springboks’ opening Test against England will take place at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 4 July.
