Rugby in South Africa
Playing tours for schools, universities, clubs and veterans, with fixtures against South African sides, in one of the great rugby nations.
Rugby here runs from the schools, where many Springboks first made their name, through the university game, where the Varsity Cup has produced 61 Springboks, to the club leagues and the Springboks themselves at Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld and Kings Park.
Touring sides come to play, to learn and to take in the country between matches. Tell us who you are and what you want from the tour, and we build it around your group.
The trips
Three ways to do it
Every one can be shortened, lengthened or combined. Open one to see a sample, then plan your own.
Met at the airport and taken to your hotel.
A match against a local school of the same age group.
Table Mountain and the city, or Robben Island.
A second match, against new opposition.
Chapman's Peak, the penguins at Boulders Beach and Cape Point.
Transfer to the airport.
- Hotels with breakfast
- Fixtures against local schools, subject to availability
- Private transfers
- International flights (book your own: we plan around them)
- Meals and drinks unless stated
- Travel insurance (check it covers contact sport)
Met at the airport and taken to your hotel.
A match against a local side.
Table Mountain and the city, or Robben Island.
The university town and home of Maties rugby, and a second fixture.
A day among the vineyards of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek.
Transfer to the airport.
- Hotels with breakfast
- Fixtures against local sides, subject to availability
- Private transfers
- International flights (book your own: we plan around them)
- Meals and drinks unless stated
- Travel insurance (check it covers contact sport)
Met at the airport and taken to your hotel.
The Apartheid Museum and a guided Soweto tour.
A match against a local club side, with your supporters on the touchline.
A safari in the Big Five reserve, about 2 hours from Johannesburg and malaria-free.
A second match, against new opposition.
Transfer to the airport, or fly on to Cape Town.
- Hotels with breakfast
- Fixtures against local sides, subject to availability
- Private transfers
- International flights (book your own: we plan around them)
- Meals and drinks unless stated
- Travel insurance (check it covers contact sport)
Where the rugby is
University rugby
The Varsity Cup runs from mid February to mid April. The 2026 competition had eight sides, including UP Tuks (champions for a record sixth time), Maties, UCT Ikey Tigers, UFS Shimlas, NWU Eagles and UJ. 61 former Varsity Cup and Shield players have gone on to play for the Springboks.
For a university side, February to April is the time to come, when the South African students are in season.
The Springboks at home
The Springboks host Australia twice in the 2027 Rugby Championship, before the Rugby World Cup in Australia (1 October to 13 November 2027). Dates and venues are still to be announced; we add them here as soon as they are out.
The Springboks host the Wallabies twice in the 2027 Rugby Championship.
The matches
Two home tests against Australia in the 2027 Rugby Championship.
When and where
Dates and venues to be confirmed.
Tickets
Tickets arranged for you, subject to availability, once they go on sale.
With a playing tour
Time a playing tour to a test week and watch the Springboks as well as play.
Good to know
- South Africa: no visa needed for tourism for up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days after the day you leave, and have at least 2 blank pages.
- Travelling on another passport? Check your own government's advice.
Booked with confidence
Follow On Tours is the tour operator for your trip. You book with us and pay us: one contract, one point of contact from your first question to your flight home.
We are a member of ABTOT, number 5718. If we were to become insolvent, ABTOT cover provides a refund if you have not yet travelled. This covers non-flight packages.
Depending on your arrangements, our trusted local team is there to deliver your trip and help with anything you need while you're away.
Build your trip
Build the Trip That's Actually Yours
Tell us who's travelling, when you'd like to go and how you'd like to stay. We'll come back with a tailored itinerary and quote.
Plan your trip in two steps
Step 1
Ask the concierge
The days, when to go, what’s included: ask anything. Information only; we never quote a price in chat.
Step 2
Build your enquiry
Your side, the rugby, dates, stay, extras: tell us exactly what you’re after.
Also in South Africa
Cricket in South Africa
England in South Africa, December 2026 to January 2027: three Tests and three ODIs.
See the page →
IllustrativeGolf in South Africa
The top courses visitors can play: the Garden Route, the Winelands, Sun City and Durban.
See the page →
Cape Town days
Nine guided days around the Newlands Test: the city, Cape Point, the Winelands, whales, sharks, safari and a helicopter flight.
See the page →Questions
Your financial protection
Follow On Tours Limited is a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT), membership number 5718, and holds bonds A60089 and A60090.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Follow On Tours Limited, membership number 5718, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:
Non-flight packages
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Follow On Tours Limited.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made
You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/