The Springboks will wrap up their 2025 Rugby Championship campaign with a historic Test against Argentina at the ‘Home of Rugby’ in London.
The Twickenham clash between the Boks – the current world and tournament champions – and Los Pumas on Saturday, 4 October will mark the teams’ first meeting in the southern hemisphere showpiece on neutral territory.
Los Pumas will be the third external opponent Rassie Erasmus’ charges face at the iconic stadium in the last three seasons after beating New Zealand by 35-7 in a Rugby World Cup warm-up game in 2023, and Wales by 41-13 last season.
Adding to the significance of the Test, it marks the closing game of the tournament – as the Wallabies host the All Blacks in Perth earlier that day – meaning it could be the competition decider depending on how the tournament plays out.
The Boks will kick off their Rugby Championship title defence with back-to-back matches against Australia in South Africa on Saturday 16 and 23 August, before travelling to New Zealand for two matches against the All Blacks in Auckland and Wellington on 6 and 13 September.
They then return to local shores to face Argentina on Saturday, 27 September, and will close off their campaign in London. The venues for the Boks’ home Test matches will be announced in due course.
“It’s always exciting to play in London and we look forward to facing Argentina in the UK for the first time in the Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus.
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“We thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing two neutral venue Test matches at the Allianz Stadium in the last two years, especially with the passionate crowd filling the ground and the large contingent of Springbok supporters based in the UK.
“We have no doubt this match is going to be another exciting spectacle given the intense battles between the Springboks and Los Pumas in the last few years, and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
UAR president Gabriel Travaglini was equally thrilled about the match being hosted in London and said: “For the Argentina Rugby Union it is an honour that Los Pumas have the opportunity to face the Springboks – the current world champions – at the legendary Twickenham, known as the ‘Home of Rugby’.
“We thank World Rugby and Sanzaar for this opportunity, which represents a recognition of the growth and level of our rugby and helps us to continue strengthening the development of Argentinean rugby.
“Undoubtedly, it will be an unforgettable experience for our players and a great opportunity to show our rugby to all the fans around the world.”
Sanzaar CEO Brendan Morris shared their sentiments: “The Rugby Championship is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious international rugby tournaments, and it is exciting that we can take this big southern hemisphere clash between Argentina and South Africa to London.
“South Africa are the current world champions and incumbent Rugby Championship champions, while Argentina is now fifth in the world rankings. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the Rugby Championship in the UK, and we look forward to a sell-out crowd and global broadcast audience.
“This is the second time Argentina has played a Rugby Championship match in London, following the 2016 match against Australia. As in 2024, the fixture will be a final-round match and may well play an important part in determining the eventual champion in 2025.”
Springbok fixtures in 2025 (all venues in SA will be confirmed):
5 July: SA v Italy
12 July: SA v Italy
19 July: SA v Georgia
16 August: SA v Australia
23 August: SA v Australia
6 September: New Zealand v SA, Eden Park, Auckland
13 September: New Zealand v SA, Sky Stadium, Wellington
27 September: SA v Argentina
4 October: Argentina v SA, Twickenham, London
Photo: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images
