Captain Siya Kolisi relishes 'old-school' tour as Springboks welcome All Blacks to South Africa

He’s only heard stories about the tours the Springboks have played in, but the fact that they will partake in one in 2026 against the All Blacks is an exciting prospect for double World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi and his teammates.

For the first time in 30 years, New Zealand will head to South Africa next year for seven matches, including three Tests against the reigning world champions, as part of an international series dubbed "Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry".

The tour was confirmed on Thursday and will replace the 2026 edition of the Rugby Championship, with the southern hemisphere tournament returning in 2027 ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

According to Kolisi, it’s a very exciting experience to look forward to.

“I’ve heard so many stories from guys who’ve been on tours and the way someone like coach Rassie (Erasmus) speaks about it,” Kolisi said.

“It is something new for us as a group, and the rivalry between us and New Zealand has always been big and tight. We saw this year with the two games that we played against them. There is always something new. For the All Blacks, they will get to know South Africa a bit more and interact with the public.

“They enjoy big support here, and it will be a big thing for most of them who haven’t been to South Africa during a Super Rugby tour. I can’t wait to experience it and hopefully get the opportunity to play with the group.”

Erasmus jokingly chirped Kolisi after this answer, saying to his Bok captain that it’s a long shot for him to make the tour at the ripe age of 34.

Kolisi added that it would be amazing for his generation if tours were brought back; however, they want to see the Rugby Championship survive and not have it go to waste. He wants to see the schedule work for all of the teams and not just some, although a full-on tour against teams like Argentina or Australia does sound enticing.

The Bok captain is hopeful that Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry will be an unforgettable experience for this generation.

“Our Tests against the All Blacks have always been played in a great spirit. This is going to be huge. It’s an opportunity for us to also show the world once again who we are and what we are about – we certainly can’t wait for it.”