Venue confirmed for historic Springbok Test as SA Rugby finalise 2024 home schedule
Bloemfontein’s Toyota Stadium has been confirmed as the venue when the Springboks take on Portugal in the historic first Test between the nations on Saturday, July 20.
The encounter between the back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions and Os Lobos will be the final match of South Africa’s incoming series, which forms part of an exciting 2024 home Test schedule.
Back in Bloem
The Springboks are set to return to the Toyota Stadium for the first time since their narrow 13-12 loss against Wales in 2022 and will be expecting a tough challenge from Portugal, who beat 2023 World Cup quarter-finalists Fiji in their final pool match in France last year.
The confirmation of Bloemfontein as the venue for the Test between South Africa and Portugal completes the Boks’ domestic Test schedule, which kicks off with a two-Test series with current Six Nations champions Ireland in Pretoria and Durban on July 6 and 13, respectively. Those internationals will be followed a week later by their clash with Os Lobos.
South Africa will then face New Zealand in back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests in Johannesburg and Cape
Town on August 31 and September 7, respectively, before taking against Argentina in Nelspruit on Saturday, September 28.
Director of rugby for SA Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, said, “We are thrilled to be going back to Bloemfontein for this historic match, and we are determined to continue to make our passionate supporters proud.”
Now that the location has been established, we can move full speed ahead with operational preparations for the house tests.
“It has definitely increased the anticipation for the upcoming season, especially after successfully defending the Rugby World Cup title to close out 2023.”
The Springboks’ home Test schedule for 2024
Saturday, July 6: South Africa v Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, July 13: South Africa v Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, July 20: South Africa v Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, August 31: South Africa v New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, September 7: South Africa v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, September 28: South Africa v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
