
Schedule: Kick off times for SIX Tests this weekend
Test rugby is back in a big way, and the opening weekend of July international fixtures will kick off with some blockbuster games on Saturday.
Just some of the highlights include New Zealand hosting France, the Springboks tackling Italy at Loftus and Argentina taking on England.
Saturday, 5 July ( *all kick off times are SA time ) Japan v Wales – 07:00
New Zealand v France – 09:05
Springboks v Italy – 17:10
Georgia v Ireland – 19:00
Argentina v England – 21:40
Sunday, 6 July
The Springboks will head into their first Test fixture of the year as overwhelming favourites, and Rassie Erasmus said that the team were looking forward to the drier conditions that can be expected in Pretoria on Saturday in the first Test against Italy.
'Some of the half gaps and some of the line breaks we made would have stuck if the weather had been drier' he said. 'We can't wait to play on a dry pitch and improve on our attack.
'We want to get better, the next three matches we'll be trying to focus on us before we hit the Rugby Championship.'
5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. 17:10.
12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha. 17:10.
19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. 17:10.
16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg. 17:10.
23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town. 17:10.
6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland. 09:05.
13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington. 09:05.
27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban. 17:10.
4 October: vs Argentina, London. 15:00.
8 November: vs France, Paris. TBD.
15 November: vs Italy, Turin. TBD.
22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin. 19:40.
29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff. 17:10.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
15 minutes ago
- The South African
Jesse Kriel - Is Springbok star single or married?
Jesse Kriel is the man of the moment after successfully captaining the Springboks to a 54-7 victory over the Barbarians over the weekend. The question for many female fans remains – is he single or does he have a wife? The 31-year-old is known for his fit physique, multilingual talents, and his 'nice guy' personality. With many of the Springbok players being husbands and fathers, female admirers want to know if good-looking Jess Kriel is single or married. Jesse – whose twin is fellow rugby player, Dan – is not married but has been in a long-term relationship with his partner, Hope Mortimer. Hope – a chartered accountant – started dating the Bok in 2018. Their first Instagram picture together was posted at an official Springbo event that year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hope Mortimer (@hopemort) In 2020, a loved-up Jesse posted about his partner: 'A million times over. I will always choose you'. Jesse Kriel and his long-term partner, Hope Mortimer. Image via Instagram: @jessekriel15 Jess Kriel's leadership skills last week are unlikely to continue this weekend, as captain Siya Kolisi is set to return to the Springboks' game against Italy in Loftus. However, according to Rugby365, Jesse's performance could 'catapult him into long‑term leadership discussions'. According to coach Rassie Erasmus, Jesse – who is vice captain – will step in for Siya during non-selection. Speaking at the Boks' first alignment camp this year, Rassie confirmed that Siya would 'not play all the matches this year.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.

IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Michael Owen returns to South Africa to experience the Hollywoodbets Durban July festivities
Legendary English footballer Michael Owens is set to be in Durban for the Hollywoodbets Durban July weekend. Image: Instagram As Durban gears up for the much-anticipated Hollywoodbets Durban July weekend, excitement is building throughout the Zulu Kingdom. This year's celebration promises to be extra special as legendary soccer player and current racehorse trainer Michael Owen arrives in the city to engage with fans and share his passion for horse racing. Drawing spectators and socialites from across the globe, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, scheduled for July 5, is well-known as one of the premier events on the South African horse racing calendar. To add to the festivities, Owen will be making an appearance at Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom on July 4 and 6, which will allow fans the opportunity to meet the football star. While Owen made his mark on the soccer pitch, his interests extend beyond football. He has established himself as a respected sports pundit and is the proud owner of The Michael Owen Racing Club, a venture aimed at providing horse racing enthusiasts a chance to experience the thrill of racehorse ownership without breaking the bank. Operating from his Manor House Stables in Cheshire, Owen's racing club has captured the imaginations of many and highlights his deep-rooted passion for horse racing. Continuing the family legacy, his daughter Gemma Owen has embraced the equestrian world, focusing her talents on dressage. This sport was not only about the art of riding but also one's ability to forge a harmonious partnership with the horse, showcasing elegance, grace, and precision in every movement. Owen was no stranger to the beauty and adventure that South Africa had to offer. During his previous visit (November 2022) he explored some of the country's stunning landscapes, including a memorable safari adventure where he connected with the wildlife and shared glimpses of the experience on his social media accounts, stating, 'South Africa, what an amazing place❤️.' His continued partnership with South African betting company Sunbet, which included exclusive campaigns offering VIP experiences like stadium tours and match tickets, underscored his strong ties to the nation. His presence at the Durban July promises to be a highlight of the weekend. DAILY NEWS

IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Springboks will use their URC experience to defuse powerful Italy scrum, says Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Jan-Hendrik Wessels is expecting a fierce scrum battle from Italy this weekend in the first Test against the Springboks. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Springbok utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels says the homework done on Italian players during the United Rugby Championship (URC) will assist the Boks' preparations for Saturday's first Test against Italy in Pretoria. The Italian national team draws predominantly from Benetton and Zebre. The latter enjoyed one of their better URC campaigns this season, winning five matches to finish 15th, while Benetton ended in 10th place. 'I faced Zebre Parma and Benetton, and we did our homework on those players then, so we know the emphasis they place on the scrums,' said Wessels, who scored a try against the Barbarians last week in what was his fourth appearance for the Springboks. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Zebre had one of their best seasons this year and beat a few big teams in the competition, so we are expecting a proper battle against Italy. Both Italian teams like to feed off their scrums – they get a lot of energy from them. It is a good base for them to play off. They scrum for penalties. They don't scrum to get away from it.' Wessels noted that Benetton, in particular, thrive on extended scrummaging battles. 'Last year, before the November Bok tour, we played Benetton and they had a big focus on scrumming long. They want to stay in the scrums – they don't run away from it. They are up for the fight.' Comfortable at both loosehead prop and hooker, Wessels said he is happy to play wherever required. 'I don't have a preference. Wherever coach Rassie picks me for the team, I am happy to play. As long as I can contribute, there is no issue for me.' The grind continues for the #Springboks (and it's great to welcome Boan Venter to camp) 💥🤝#ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) June 30, 2025