Fan's Guide to SA Rugby Springbok Test Rugby All Ages 2026

In Rounds 1-6, each nation earns match points that are added up to rank the six teams in its hemisphere group:

Bonus points

• 1 point for scoring four or more tries.
• 1 point for losing by seven points or fewer.

The team with the most match points after Round 6 finishes first in the group.

If two nations in the same hemisphere group are level on match points after Round 6, their order is decided by, in turn:

1. Most wins
2. Points difference
3. Tries difference
4. Most tries
5. Coin toss

Group position matters because it decides the Springboks' Finals Weekend opponent: they play the team that finished in the same place in the Northern group.

After Round 6, all 12 nations go to London for the Finals Weekend, 27-29 November 2026, at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham). Each nation plays the team that finished in the same position in the other hemisphere's group.

• North 1 v South 1 decides the tournament winner, who takes the Nations Championship Trophy.
• The group points from Rounds 1-6 fall away; the six results decide the Hemisphere Trophy.

There are two titles at the Finals Weekend: the Nations Championship Trophy (winner of North 1 v South 1) and the Hemisphere Trophy (North or South).

For the Hemisphere Trophy, the Round 1-6 points are reset and every Finals Weekend result counts for the winning team's hemisphere:

• There are 7 points available, so the first hemisphere to reach 4 points wins.
• If the hemispheres finish level on 3.5 points, the winner of North 1 v South 1 decides the winning hemisphere.

It depends on the match, if the scores are level after 80 minutes:

Golden point means the first team to score in the extra period wins.

The men's World Rugby Rankings use a points exchange system: whatever one team gains from a match, the other loses.

• Each team has a rating, usually between 0 and 100. The top team normally rates above 90.
• How many points change hands depends on the result and the gap between the two teams' ratings. Beating a higher-rated team earns more than beating a lower-rated one.
• Home advantage: the home team is treated as three rating points stronger than its actual rating, so it gains less for a home win and loses more for a home defeat.
• Big wins: if the winner wins by more than 15 points, the change is multiplied by 1.5.
• Rugby World Cup: points exchanges are doubled for World Cup matches.
• There is a maximum a team's rating can move from one match.
• Ratings don't change when a team isn't playing.
• Only full internationals between two World Rugby full member unions count, so matches against invitational sides or A teams don't affect the rankings.

In international matches a union may name up to eight replacements, so a Test match-day squad is 23 players (World Rugby Law 3).

Front-row rules for a 23-player squad

• At least six front-row players (props and hookers) in the squad.
• The team must be able to replace the loose-head prop, tight-head prop and hooker the first time it is asked to.
• If a team can name only two front-row replacements, it may name only 22 players.
• Before the match, each team tells the officials which players can play in the front row and in which positions. Only they may play there in contested scrums.

Bench split
The laws don't fix how many of the eight replacements are forwards and how many are backs. Beyond the front-row minimum, the coaches choose the split (for example 5-3, 6-2 or 7-1 forwards to backs).

An injured player who is permanently replaced can't return. A player taken off tactically (for example, a starting prop subbed in the second half) may come back on only to replace:

• an injured front-row player;
• a player with a blood injury;
• a player with a head injury;
• a player just injured by foul play (as confirmed by the match officials);
• a player nominated to leave so a front-row player can come on when a front-rower has been carded or sent off;
• a teammate who received a 20-minute red card, once 20 minutes of playing time have passed (elite rugby only).

All replacements happen only when the ball is dead and with the referee's permission (World Rugby Law 3).

Both are temporary replacements under World Rugby Law 3.

Head Injury Assessment (HIA) (in matches World Rugby has approved in advance for the HIA process)

• The player leaves the field and is temporarily replaced, even if all the replacements have been used. Play can't restart until the replacement is on.
• If the player isn't back within 12 minutes (actual time), the replacement becomes permanent.
• If the player also has a blood injury, up to 5 minutes can be taken to stop the bleeding before the 12 minutes start.

Blood injury

• The player goes off and may be temporarily replaced until the bleeding is controlled or covered.
• If not back within 15 minutes (actual time), the replacement becomes permanent.
• In international matches, the match-day doctor decides whether it is a blood injury.

Concussion

• A player who is concussed or has suspected concussion must be immediately and permanently removed ("Recognise and Remove") and cannot return to that match.

World Rugby made the 20-minute red card full law for elite rugby, which includes Tests, from 1 July 2026, after a global trial.

20-minute red card

• For foul play that reaches red card level but is not highly dangerous and intentional.
• The player is off for the rest of the match. After 20 minutes of playing time from the incident, the team may bring on a replacement (even a player who was tactically replaced earlier).
• Two yellow cards to the same player in a match also make a 20-minute red card, unless the second act is highly dangerous and intentional.

Permanent red card

• For highly dangerous and intentional foul play. Only the referee on the field can give it (after a TMO review if one is used).
• The player can't be replaced, so the team plays a player short for the rest of the match.

How a yellow can become a red

1. The referee shows a yellow card and crosses their arms. The player goes off for 10 minutes while the incident is reviewed off the field.
2. The Foul Play Review Officer (or the TMO doing that job) has up to eight minutes to review it.
3. The card stays yellow or is upgraded to a 20-minute red. The off-field reviewer cannot recommend a permanent red.

Under World Rugby Regulation 8, a player can play for South Africa's senior team if they have a genuine, close, credible and established link with South Africa through one of these:

• they were born in South Africa; or
• one parent or grandparent was born in South Africa; or
• they have been registered exclusively with a rugby union or body in South Africa for the 60 months (five years) immediately before playing; or
• they have completed ten years of cumulative residence in South Africa before playing.

A player who has already played senior international rugby for another country is not eligible unless World Rugby approves a one-off birthright transfer (born in South Africa, or a parent or grandparent was, and at least three years since their last match for the other country).

Only in limited cases. Under World Rugby Regulation 8, a player who has played for one country's senior 15s team, next-senior 15s team (such as an A side) or senior sevens team is captured and can't play at those levels for another country.

The exception is a birthright transfer. A player may switch once if:

• they were born in the new country, or a parent or grandparent was born there; and
• at least three years have passed since they last played for their former country; and
• World Rugby approves the transfer.

A player may transfer only once, so no player can represent more than two countries in their lifetime.