Springboks To Face Japan In Historic Wembley Test To Open November Tour
Springboks To Face Japan In Historic Wembley Test To Open November Tour
The Springboks will kick off their November tour with a landmark clash against Japan at Wembley Stadium on Nov. 1, the venue’s first rugby match since 2016.
The Springboks will launch their Castle Lager Outgoing Tour with a historic clash against Japan at London’s Wembley Stadium on Nov. 1, marking the venue’s first rugby fixture in nearly a decade.
The test will be the first rugby match at the iconic north London stadium since 2016, when South Africa and the Barbarians battled to a thrilling 31-31 draw.
Tickets go on general sale Friday, Aug. 22, through Ticketmaster and Wembley Stadium.
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The Springboks, back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions, are no strangers to the English capital. They defeated Wales 41-13 at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in June 2024, and a year earlier, they thumped New Zealand 35-7 at the same venue as part of their World Cup buildup.
Before arriving at Wembley, South Africa will face Argentina on Oct. 4 at Allianz Stadium in The Rugby Championship finale. Another large contingent of expatriate South Africans is expected to turn out in full voice.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the Wembley showcase as the perfect prelude to a demanding European campaign.
“We are delighted to be starting off our tour of the Northern Hemisphere with a match against Japan at the iconic Wembley Stadium,” Erasmus said. “The Brave Blossoms are renowned for playing fast, attacking, high-tempo rugby, and we know from past meetings how dangerous they can be.”
The Boks and Japan have met only three times before.
South Africa won the most recent encounters — both in 2019, including a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in Tokyo — but history still lingers from the “Miracle of Brighton” in 2015, when Japan stunned the rugby world with a 34-32 victory in the pool stage.
Japan coach Eddie Jones, who masterminded that upset and has since coached England to a World Cup final, relished the chance to renew the rivalry.
“The game in Brighton 10 years ago changed rugby in Japan from being a minor sport to a boom sport,” Jones said. “Playing against the Boks is the dream of every young Japanese player.”
For Wembley, the return of international rugby is another milestone in the venue’s storied history.
The stadium has staged 11 rugby matches, beginning with England’s 26-13 victory over Canada in 1992. Since reopening in 2007, four rugby fixtures have been played there, including two Rugby World Cup matches in 2015 that drew near-capacity crowds of almost 90,000.
A Wembley spokesperson said the occasion would be a special one.
“After nine years away, international rugby returns to Wembley Stadium,” the spokesperson said. “We are thrilled to be hosting back-to-back World Cup winner South Africa and a very exciting Japan side. It promises to be another spectacular sporting fixture under the arch.”
The match is being promoted by Pitch International, a London-based agency that has staged major rugby and football events worldwide.
Andy Marinos, Chief Commercial Officer at Pitch, said bringing two proud rugby nations together at Wembley reflected the company’s commitment to growing the sport.
“This fixture will not only celebrate the rising strength of Japanese rugby and the enduring legacy of the Springboks, but also reinforce Pitch International’s dedication to delivering unforgettable experiences for players and fans alike,” Marinos said.
Kickoff under the famous Wembley arch is set for Nov. 1, when two contrasting rugby cultures collide in front of what is expected to be a full house.
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