Springboks' 2024 Home Test Lineup Unveiled Featuring Ireland, New Zealand, and Argentina

South African rugby enthusiasts are bracing for a thrilling 2024 season as SA Rugby has unveiled a spectacular home Test schedule featuring top international sides. The Springboks are set to host Ireland, New Zealand, and Argentina, providing a feast of rugby action for fans across the nation.

The Springboks, rekindling their intense rivalry with the currently second-ranked Ireland, will kick off the season with back-to-back games starting in Pretoria at Loftus Versfeld on July 6, followed by a rematch at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on July 13. It has been eight years since Ireland's last visit to South African soil, a series which the Springboks won 2-1. However, recent encounters have tilted in favor of the Irish, who have come out on top in their past three head-to-head matchups, including a narrow 13-8 victory during the Rugby World Cup in Marseille.

Continuing the July schedule, South Africa will make their historical first encounter with Portugal, known as Os Lobos (the Wolves), on July 20, with the venue for this landmark game yet to be announced. After a thrilling draw against Georgia and a remarkable victory over Fiji at the last World Cup, Portugal is set to be an intriguing opposition for the Springboks’ maiden clash.

Traditional adversaries New Zealand, currently occupying the third spot in the global rankings, are slated to face the Springboks in a two-Test series during the Rugby Championship. The teams will clash at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on August 31 and then continue the duel at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on September 7 — a venue that is set to host the All Blacks for the first time. The Springboks will be looking to achieve a third consecutive win over their New Zealand rivals for the first time since the streak of victories back in 2009. Their previous meeting in Cape Town, at the storied Newlands Stadium resulted in a close 25-24 defeat for South Africa in 2017.

The home Test season will conclude with a much-anticipated match against Argentina at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on September 28. Returning to the Lowveld after an eight-year hiatus, the Springboks will be looking to continue their perfect record at Mbombela Stadium, a ground where they have managed to defeat teams such as Scotland, Wales, and even New Zealand.

In addition to the home Test matches, the Boks' schedule will also include two games against the Wallabies in Australia and an away match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship in September. Furthermore, European engagements are on the horizon for November 2024.

With such an exciting lineup, the months leading to the 2024 Rugby season promise to be filled with anticipation and preparation from both the Springbok squad and the rugby community at large. After what will be a significant 252-day interim without matches, the Springboks are eager to return to the pitch and showcase their prowess against world-class teams.