Baltimore Finale Approaching

Rugby · Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026

M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland  |  Saturday, September 12, 2026

After three bruising Tests on South African soil, Rugby's Greatest Rivalry is about to cross the Atlantic. The Springboks and All Blacks will close out their historic 2026 touring series at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on September 12 — the first time in more than a century of fixtures between the two nations that their rivalry has been staged anywhere in the United States. With the series level at 1-1 heading into Saturday's third Test in Johannesburg, the Baltimore finale is shaping up to be a genuine decider rather than a farewell exhibition.

A rivalry unlike any other, on a stage unlike any other

South Africa and New Zealand have met roughly 110 times in Test rugby across more than 100 years, a rivalry regarded by many as the fiercest and most storied in the sport. Yet for all that history, neither side has ever played the other on American soil. That changes on September 12, when the two teams walk out at the home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens in front of an expected crowd in excess of 70,000.

"Taking the Springboks to new audiences and territories is a key objective for South African rugby, and the opportunity to do so in a ground-breaking match against our fiercest rivals was a major determinant in where the fourth Test would be played," said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, when the fixture was first announced.

M&T Bank Stadium, opened in 1998 and seating 70,257, will mark the sixth All Blacks Test played on United States soil, following previous New Zealand appearances in Chicago, Washington DC and San Diego. For the Springboks, however, it's a far rarer occurrence — only the third time this century that South Africa's national side has played a Test in the United States, after a 2001 meeting with the USA Eagles in Houston and a 2018 clash with Wales in Washington DC.

A trophy built for the occasion

Organizers have marked the historic staging with a purpose-built trophy unlike anything else in the sport: two magnetized halves, designed to be drawn together, symbolizing the bond between the two rugby cultures despite their fierce on-field rivalry. Whichever nation wins the four-match series will be presented with both halves of the trophy following the final whistle in Baltimore. Should the series finish level after all four Tests, each nation will instead retain one half — a fitting design given how tightly the tour has been contested so far.

The road to Baltimore

The Baltimore Test caps off a jam-packed tour schedule that began in early August with the All Blacks facing off against South African franchises before the Test series proper got underway. New Zealand won the series opener 33-16 at Ellis Park, before the Springboks responded in kind, winning 33-26 in Cape Town to level the series at 1-1. That result — built on an explosive early try from Jesse Kriel, a return to form from captain Siya Kolisi, and 18 points from the boot of Cheslin Kolbe — returned South Africa to the world No. 1 ranking and set up a decisive third Test at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on September 5, before the series moves on to the United States a week later.

Tour schedule at a glance

Date	Fixture	Venue
7 August	Stormers vs. All Blacks	Cape Town
11 August	Sharks vs. All Blacks	Durban
15 August	Bulls vs. All Blacks	Pretoria
22 August	Springboks vs. All Blacks (1st Test) — NZ won 33-16	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
25 August	Lions vs. All Blacks	Johannesburg
29 August	Springboks vs. All Blacks (2nd Test) — SA won 33-26	Cape Town Stadium
5 September	Springboks vs. All Blacks (3rd Test)	FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
12 September	Springboks vs. All Blacks (4th & Final Test)	M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore

An eye on 2031 — and beyond

The Baltimore Test is about more than just settling this year's series. World Rugby has framed the fixture as part of a longer-term push to grow the sport's footprint in the United States ahead of the men's Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women's tournament in 2033, both of which the US is set to host. Baltimore itself is among the cities under consideration as a potential 2031 World Cup venue, meaning September's Test doubles as something of a live audition for the region's rugby infrastructure and fan appetite. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin has described the fixture as part of a long-term plan to ignite the sport's popularity in the American market.

What's at stake

With the series tied at 1-1 heading into the third Test in Johannesburg, Baltimore is no longer just a novelty stop on the tour calendar — it could well be the match that decides the destination of the two-piece trophy. If South Africa or New Zealand can move ahead in Johannesburg, the finale on American soil would offer the losing side a chance to level things up one final time; if the series remains deadlocked going into the fourth Test, Baltimore becomes a winner-takes-all decider played out in front of an NFL-sized American crowd, a scenario organizers could scarcely have scripted better when the venue was first announced back in January.

Sources

• Visit Baltimore — "South Africa Springboks vs. New Zealand All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium"
• AllBlacks.com — "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry | All Blacks vs Springboks"
• AllBlacks.com — "One month to go: All Blacks v Springboks in Baltimore"
• Baltimore Ravens — "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Heads to M&T Bank Stadium"
• Goff Rugby Report — "All Blacks vs Springboks Coming to Baltimore in September"
• Americas Rugby News — "Baltimore Secures New Zealand All Blacks vs South Africa Springboks in 2026"
• Joburg ETC — "Springboks vs All Blacks set for historic clash in Baltimore"
• LittleAfrica News — "Springboks Even Series With All Blacks Ahead of Baltimore Showdown"
• Maryland Stadium Authority — "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry - Fourth Test - Springboks v All Blacks"

Also Read: Springboks vs All Blacks Wrap Up

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