SuperSport to show every match of New Zealand’s South Africa tour live

SuperSport will broadcast all eight matches in New Zealand’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour live in South Africa after CANAL+ confirmed a rights agreement with the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and New Zealand Rugby (NZR).

The deal covers all four Tests between the Springboks and All Blacks, along with four fixtures against United Rugby Championship sides. The tour is New Zealand’s first full visit to South Africa in 30 years.

It begins tonight in Cape Town, where the Stormers host the All Blacks. Kick-off is at 19:00, with the match live on SuperSport on DStv.

The agreement means viewers in South Africa will be able to follow the complete tour, including the meetings between the two international powerhouses and New Zealand’s matches against the United Rugby Championship teams.

“The South African, New Zealand and global rugby audience is thirsting for this Tour, and we’re delighted to confirm that SuperSport will continue to bring rugby’s biggest matches into homes in Africa,” said Rian Oberholzer, SARU CEO.

“This is a landmark event in the rugby calendar and having a landmark broadcaster in SuperSport to once again bring the passion and drama of the Tour to screens on the continent will be music to the ears of local fans.”

David Mignot, CEO of CANAL+ Africa and MultiChoice Group, welcomed the confirmation of the agreement for the tour’s historic return after three decades.

“CANAL+ has continued to demonstrate its investment in local sport and entertainment content and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry is another feather in our cap in terms of bringing sports content that matters to viewers and subscribers,” said Mignot.

“We have been consistent and unwavering in our belief that local content is the key driver of growth in our business but also has more of a meaningful impact in the lives of the people who matter to us the most, our viewers and subscribers.

“We are grateful to our partners, SARU and NZR, for making this partnership possible, and we look forward to an exceptional display of rugby between two of the best rugby nations in the world.”

New Zealand CEO Steve Lancaster said interest in the tour was continuing to grow, particularly in New Zealand, while acknowledging its appeal to audiences in South Africa and around the world.

“Anticipation for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry continues to build and interest in the Tour is very strong across New Zealand, as we know it is for South African and global audiences.

“This is one of the game’s most exciting events and we’re looking forward to enabling fans to follow another memorable chapter in the rivalry between our two teams and engage with the stories and all the action during the tour.”

The four-Test series between the Springboks and All Blacks forms the centrepiece of the schedule, while the fixtures against the United Rugby Championship teams will complete New Zealand’s first full tour of South Africa in 30 years.