No Rugby Championship defence for Boks next year

The Springboks will not have a chance to defend their Rugby Championship title next year after the tournament was shelved for the first time since 2020, and only the second time in history.

- Nicholas Zaal

South Africa won back-to-back titles for the first time this year, claiming their sixth overall title including three in the Tri-Nations era. They edged Argentina 29-27 in the final round at Twickenham to seal a closely contested campaign that went down to the wire, with all four teams in contention until the end.

Southern hemisphere governing body Sanzaar confirmed yesterday that the four-nation competition will return in 2027, 2028 and 2029, but not next year.