The South African national rugby team, the Springboks, is set for an intense 2025 with as many as 15 Tests on the horizon, as confirmed by head coach Rassie Erasmus.

This packed schedule is part of a strategic plan to deepen the squad’s depth and provide more opportunities for emerging players.

Erasmus’ Plan for 15 Tests

“We are hoping for 15 [Tests], and they should be confirmed soon,” said Erasmus.

He acknowledged that the season ahead would be a challenging one, but stressed the importance of maintaining player development through consistent game time.

“We need that. We still want to filter players and give others opportunities,” he added.

With this in mind, the question of player welfare has become more pressing.

As the Springboks look to compete on multiple fronts, the strain on players could increase, especially considering the already demanding calendar.

Potential Shift in Rugby’s Calendar

For years now, there has been talk of restructuring the global rugby calendar, aligning competition windows to better balance player load and injury risks.

Despite ongoing discussions, nothing has materialized yet, but Erasmus recently highlighted a potential solution.

In an interview with The Telegraph, he suggested that moving the Rugby Championship to overlap with the Six Nations, in February and March, could be the key to alleviating some of the pressure.

“I think it would have sorted out a lot of problems, player load and injury-wise,” Erasmus said, adding that such a move would create space for more recovery time.

This shift, he believes, could free up weeks in the calendar that would benefit the Springboks and other Southern Hemisphere teams, giving them more flexibility in scheduling.

Concerns Around Joining the Six Nations

While Erasmus sees merit in the idea of moving the Rugby Championship’s dates, he remained cautious about South Africa’s potential inclusion in the Six Nations.

Having spent time with Munster in the Northern Hemisphere, Erasmus acknowledged the deep traditions of the Six Nations competition.

He expressed doubts about whether the Six Nations and its participants would welcome the Springboks with open arms.

“There are a lot of traditions that are a little bit more valuable than us just fitting in,” he said.

“I’m not sure what the answer is there, but we admire the competition.”

Erasmus made it clear that while South Africa would be honored to join, it’s important to respect the history and heritage of the Six Nations.

Springboks’ Fixtures for 2025

The Springboks’ busy schedule includes some exciting fixtures:

28 June: SA v Barbarians (location TBD)
Incoming Series:
- 5 July: SA v Italy (Pretoria)
- 12 July: SA v Italy (Gqeberha)
- 19 July: SA v Georgia (Nelspruit)
Rugby Championship:
- 16 August: SA v Australia (Johannesburg)
- 23 August: SA v Australia (Cape Town)
- 6 September: New Zealand v SA (Eden Park, Auckland)
- 13 September: New Zealand v SA (Sky Stadium, Wellington)
- 27 September: SA v Argentina (Durban)
- 4 October: Argentina v SA (Twickenham, London)
Year-End Tour:
- 8 November: France v South Africa (Paris)
- 15 November: Italy v South Africa (Turin)
- 22 November: Ireland v South Africa (Dublin)
- 29 November: Wales v South Africa (Cardiff)