Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expects Scott Robertson’s Barbarians to “provide us with a proper test” in Gqeberha on 20 June.
Tuesday marks exactly 60 days before the back-to-back world champions launch their 2026 season at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Boks will take on a star-studded Barbarians outfit who will be coached by former All Blacks mentor Scott Robertson for the YesPlay Cup.
The Baa-Baas match will be preceded by a curtain-raiser clash between an SA A side and Zimbabwe.
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“The Barbarians are coming to South Africa with an experienced and esteemed coaching team, and we know they will provide us with a proper test,” Erasmus said.
“At the same time, we’re very excited to see the rest of our wider squad in action in a proper match when the SA A team take on the Sables from Zimbabwe. They have qualified for the 2027 World Cup and I’m sure it will be a great match.”
The Springboks have never lost at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, winning eight of their nine Tests, with one ending in a draw.
Last year, a crowd of 44,282 packed the venue to see the Boks beat Italy 45-0.
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“I can’t wait for the season to start and what better place than Gqeberha, where we’ve always enjoyed enormous support,” said Erasmus.
“We’ve been told that the average attendance at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is over 95% of stadium capacity and we hope to see the stands packed out again this year when we welcome the Baa-Baas to the game.”
Last year the Barbarians played the Boks at Cape Town Stadium in front of 45,000 fans.
Following the Baa-Baas clash, the Boks will host England, Scotland, and Wales in the new Nations Championship in July, before welcoming the All Blacks for three Tests in SA in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, before a final clash in the USA.
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Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is also the venue for the U20 Rugby Championship which kicks off on Monday, 27 April.
John Spencer, president of the Barbarian FC, said: “Barbarian FC prides itself on its values and ethos and it is important our partners embody the same. We are delighted to be working and partnering with YesPlay when we take on the Springboks this June.
“YesPlay are a proud South African company and in addition to the title sponsorship of the match we are proud to have them on the front of our jersey for this exciting international clash.”
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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