Women’s rugby spawns new era: SA & USA prep for first-ever clash in Mzansi

In a significant move for South African rugby, the Springbok Women are set to host the USA Women’s Eagles for a historic two-Test series in July 2026.

This marks the first time these two nations will face off on South African soil, further cementing the rapid professionalisation of the women’s game.

The series will feature high-profile double headers alongside the Springbok Men's newly established Nations Championship campaign. The fixtures are scheduled for South Africa's most iconic cathedrals of rugby:

Saturday, 4 July: Ellis Park, Johannesburg (Opening for Boks vs. England)

Saturday, 11 July: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (Opening for Boks vs. Scotland)

Springbok Women head coach Swys de Bruin hailed the move as a vital "stepping stone" toward the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“Our objective is to play as many top-ten teams as possible,” De Bruin noted.
The USA are currently ranked 8th in the world, while South Africa reached an all-time high of 10th following their historic quarter-final finish at the 2025 World Cup in England.

This series is part of a broader 2026 strategy that includes another massive double header on September 5, 2026, when the Bok Women will face the world-renowned Black Ferns of New Zealand at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Adding to the American Invasion, the Junior Springbok Women will also host their USA U20 counterparts for two matches on July 18 and 25 in the Western Cape.

The US development squad will be based at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, highlighting a month of intense cross-continental rivalry.