The Springboks will wrap up their 2025 Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign with an exciting fixture against Argentina at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in London on Saturday, 4 October, in what marks the teams’ first encounter in the southern hemisphere showpiece on neutral territory.
Los Pumas will be the third external opponent the world champions 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 Springboks will kick off their Castle Lager 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 Springboks’ 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 Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.
“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 Allianz Stadium, 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 Chief Executive 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.”
Tickets will go on general sale from 12h00 on Thursday, 13 February via Ticketmaster.co.uk and England Rugby, starting from just £55* for adults and £28* for Under-16s. Hospitality packages are also available on www.allianzstadiumtwickenham.com.
(*booking fees apply)
Springbok fixtures in 2025 (all venues in SA will be confirmed):
Castle Lager Incoming Series:
- 5 July: SA v Italy
- 12 July: SA v Italy
- 19 July: SA v Georgia
Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
- 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 – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London
sultan of speed
There\’s only one person who witnessed Jim Laker and Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets in an innings – As a 10-year-old Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets in the 1956 Old Trafford Test against Australia. Forty-three years later he was in India watching the India vs Pakistan Test and saw Anil Kumble taking all the 10 wickets in an innings. These were the only two Tests Stokes has watched in his life.
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