The Springboks will launch their end-of-year tour with a historic clash against Japan at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 1 November – marking rugby’s return to the iconic London venue for the first time in nine years.

Wembley last hosted rugby in 2016, when the Springboks and Barbarians produced a thrilling 31-31 draw. This time, the world champions will face Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms in what promises to be another blockbuster occasion under the famous arch. Tickets go on general sale on Friday, 22 August.

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The Boks have enjoyed strong support in London in recent years, beating Wales at Twickenham last year and New Zealand in 2023 ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France.

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the opportunity to start the tour at Wembley.

“We are delighted to be starting off our tour of the Northern Hemisphere with a match against Japan at the iconic Wembley Stadium, especially ahead of a challenging outgoing tour which kicks off a week later with the first official Test of the November window against France in Paris,” said Erasmus.

“The Brave Blossoms are renowned for playing fast, attacking, high-tempo rugby – which has been prevalent in our last two encounters, before and during the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019. We have had fantastic support from our fans in the UK for our fixtures in London over the past few years and I am sure this match will be no different, especially being at one of the most famous sporting venues in the world.”

This will be the fourth Test between the nations. South Africa won both meetings in 2019, including the Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Tokyo, but Japan memorably shocked the Boks at Brighton in 2015.

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Japan coach Eddie Jones relished the chance for another shot at the world champions.

“The game in Brighton 10 years ago changed rugby in Japan from being a minor sport to a boom sport. Playing against the Boks is the dream of every young Japanese player,” said Jones.

Wembley has staged 11 rugby internationals, including two Rugby World Cup pool matches in 2015 which drew near-capacity crowds of almost 90,000.

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