Rugby fever is rising in Gqeberha with just 60 days until the Springboks kick off their 2026 season against former All Blacks’ coach Scott Robertson’s star-studded Barbarians team.
The Springboks again face the famous BaaBaas in their first match of the season in a repeat of a fixture that saw 45 000 fans packing into the Cape Town Stadium last year.
Curtain-raiser
The match will be preceded by the chance for fans to see South Africa’s next best in action when SA ‘A’ take on Zimbabwe as a curtain-raiser to the main game in an action-packed day of rugby in the Bay.
With the best Under-20 talent in town for the SANZAAR Rugby Championship, kicking off on Monday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha is going rugby mad.
“I can’t wait for the season to start and what better place than Gqeberha, where we’ve always enjoyed enormous support,” said Springbok coach Rassie 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 to BaaBaas to the game.
“They are coming to South Africa with an experienced and esteemed coaching team, and we know they will provide us with a proper test.
“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 Rugby World Cup and I’m sure it will be a great match.”
Never lost at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
The Springboks have never lost in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, winning eight of their nine Tests at this iconic venue, while one clash ended in a draw (see below).
Last year, a crowd of 44 282 packed the stands to see a clinical Springbok performance as they beat Italy by 45-0.
Fixtures involving the Barbarians are rare and highly anticipated worldwide, bringing together some of the most exciting names in global rugby for a once-off showcase.
Their matches are known for capturing the imagination of fans across generations, combining elite skill with an unstructured, expressive style of play that is seldom seen in the modern game.
What makes the Barbarians particularly compelling is the way their squad is assembled. Players are invited from across the rugby world based on form, reputation, and flair, often representing a mix of countries, cultures, and playing styles.
Selection is typically finalised close to matchday, adding an extra layer of intrigue and anticipation as fans eagerly await the final line-up and the magic it might produce on the field.
After the Barbarians clash, the Springboks will host England, Scotland and Wales in three Tests in the new Nations Championship in July, before they welcome the All Blacks for three Tests in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a new series that will play out every four years.
The Springboks’ Test record in Gqeberha
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| 20 Aug 2011 | New Zealand | Won 18-5 |
| 23 June 2012 | England | Draw 14-14 |
| 28 June 2014 | Scotland | Won 55-6 |
| 25 June 2016 | Ireland | Won 19-13 |
| 19 Aug 2017 | Argentina | Won 37-15 |
| 29 Sept 2018 | Australia | Won 23-12 |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Argentina | Won 32-12 |
| 21 Aug 2021 | Argentina | Won 29-10 |
| 12 July 2025 | Italy | Won 45-0 |
