Every great sporting event has a story to tell, and the upcoming Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa broadcast via Pasifika TV is no exception.
With storytelling at the heart of its mahi, Pasifika TV is proud to announce it will be showing the tour matches LIVE at no cost across screens throughout the Pacific region, supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and in partnership with Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC).
For the first time in 30 years, a 44-strong All Blacks side will travel to South Africa, for a Test series against their toughest Springbok rivals, as well as clashes with the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions.
Iconic venues across South Africa will host rugby’s fiercest battles, before a historic fourth Test in Baltimore, USA, signifying a new chapter in the game, three decades following the All Blacks’ legendary 1996 tour victory.
Tui McKendrick, Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited’s (PCBL) General General Manager Programming and Sport, says securing the rights to show such a legendary tour is a coup for Pasifika TV.
“With so many Pacific players in the wider All Blacks squad, including captain Ardie Savea, Pasifika TV is privileged to be able to showcase their talent and tell their inspirational stories to their families back home in the region,” Tui says.
“Coverage of this Tour follows on from Pasifika TV’s coverage of Pacific athletes at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and is a nice addition to our growing suite of sport content and sport stories.”
The All Blacks will head to South Africa after making an unbeaten start to the inaugural Nations Championship.
Coached by Dave Rennie, of Cook Islands descent, the All Blacks opened their campaign with a thrilling 34-32 victory over France in Christchurch, a defeat over Italy 47-17 in Wellington and Ireland 40-21, at Eden Park.
The Springboks also completed an unbeaten opening block of Nations Championship matches, recording victories over England, Scotland and Wales on home soil.
The squad is as follows (age, Super Rugby Club, province, Test caps):
* denotes new cap
Forwards (25)
Hookers
Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 22)
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 109)
Samisoni Taukei’aho (28 / Chiefs / Waikato / 44)
George Bell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 4)
Props
Ethan De Groot (27 / Highlanders / Southland / 43)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 26)
Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 2)
Ollie Norris (26 / Chiefs / Waikato / 3)
Tyrel Lomax (30 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 51)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 37)
Pasilio Tosi (27 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 17)
Siale Lauaki * (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0)
Locks
Tupou Vaa’i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 47)
Patrick Tuipulotu (33 / Blues / Auckland / 57)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 15)
Sam Darry (26 / Blues / Canterbury / 10)
Fabian Holland (23 / Highlanders / Otago / 12)
Loose Forwards
Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 10)
Simon Parker (26 / Chiefs / Northland / 8)
Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Tasman / 14)
Luke Jacobson (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 27)
Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 2)
Ardie Savea (32 / Moana Pasifika / Wellington / 109) (Captain)
Wallace Sititi (23 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 21)
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa * (22 / Moana Pasifika / Southland / 0)
Backs (19)
Halfbacks
Cameron Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 20)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 24)
Kyle Preston (26 / Crusaders / Wellington / 1)
First Five-Eighths
Ruben Love (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 8)
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 144)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 77)
Josh Jacomb * (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 81)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 26)
Billy Proctor (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 13)
Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 90)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Tasman / 2)
Outside Backs
Caleb Clarke (27 / Blues / Auckland / 35)
Fehi Fineanganofo (23 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Leroy Carter (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 7)
Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 2)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 57)
Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 88)
Emoni Narawa (27 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 4)
Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams, Scott Barrett and Leicester Fainga’anuku.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Fixtures (all times listed are NZST):
- August 8, 5:00am: All Blacks v Stormers, DHL Stadium, Cape Town
- August 12, 5:00am: All Blacks v Sharks, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
- August 16, 5:00am: All Blacks v Bulls, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
- August 23, 3:00am: All Blacks v Springboks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg (first Test)
- August 26, 5:00am: All Blacks v Lions, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- August 30, 3:00am: All Blacks v Springboks, DHL Stadium, Cape Town (second Test)
- September 6, 3:00am: All Blacks v Springboks, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (third Test)
- September 13, 9:00am: All Blacks v Springboks, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (fourth Test)
To view the Greatest Rivalry Tour in the region, visit Pasifika TV or your local broadcaster.