Cape Town Stadium to host Springboks v Barbarians
Following the news earlier this year that the Springboks would take on the Wallabies at Cape Town Stadium (DHL Stadium) on 23 August, a second international clash has been announced for the Mother City.
Rassie Erasmus' Boks will take on the Barbarians on Saturday, 28 June, with the match marking the start of the world champions' 2025 international calendar.
This fixture will be the first ever meeting between the Boks and Barbarians on South African soil. The two sides have met eight times before, with the last encounter taking place in London at Wembley Stadium on 5 November 2016. The match ended 31-31.
For those unfamiliar with the Barbarians - or BaaBaas for short, they are a British-based invitational rugby club founded in 1890 and which wear an iconic black and white kit. For 2025, the team will be made up of players from sides that ply their trade in the United Rugby Championship, Top 14, Premiership, Super Rugby and Japan Rugby League One. Think of the BaaBaas as something of a 'Dream Team' made up of players who aren't on international duty.
Speaking after the announcement, Erasmus said: 'It's always exciting to face the BaaBaas, and this match will be particularly special as it marks the first time that we will face them in South Africa. For us this will be the perfect opportunity to get the players match-ready for the official international season, which starts a week later.
'We may have had a satisfying 2024 season, but this is a new year and a fresh challenge, and we'd like to start strong and build momentum as the season progresses. We have a tough year ahead, and the Barbarians, who are usually laden with seasoned internationals, will provide the perfect test before the Castle Lager Incoming Series.'
Tickets for the clash are expected to go on sale in the near future.
After the tussle with the BaaBaas, the Boks will play six matches on home soil in the second half of the year:
Castle Lager Incoming Series
5 July: Boks v Italy – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
12 July: Boks v Italy – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
19 July: Boks v Georgia – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The FOURTEEN ex-Celtic players looking for a new club – including Barcelona conqueror and Europa League winner
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CELTIC have completed arguably their biggest ever free transfer signing as Kieran Tierney returns to the club. They're also in the process of losing another Scotland international under freedom of contract with Greg Taylor jumping ship to PAOK Salonika in Greece. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 5 Kieran Tierney is back at Celtic in a stunning move Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Meanwhile, Greg Taylor is on his way out Credit: Kenny Ramsay It's generally been a matter of pride in the East End of Glasgow not to let your top talent walk out of the building for free. James McCarthy, one of the strangest Hoops signings in recent memory, will do precisely that this summer as his four year stay at the club comes to an end. But there's plenty of ex-Hoops stars available right now under freedom of contract, including one at least one more potential recruit in the form of Jeffrey Schlupp. But there's plenty of EX-Hoops stars on the lookout for new clubs this summer - and here's SunSport's at-a-glance guide. Dedryck Boyata Now 34, the big Belgian defender has been without a club for six months since leaving Club Brugge but has been strutting his stuff out in The Soccer Tournament 7-a-sides out in the US. Sold on the club by Ronny Deila, Boyata had his fare share of fallouts with Brendan Rodgers before he eventually left on a free transfer to join Hertha Berlin. Jason Denayer Another Belgian centre half who came in on the Boyata route from Manchester City, Hoops loanee Denayer was named the PFA Scotland young player of the year during his time in Glasgow. Still only 27, he's on the look out for a new club this summer having spent the last three seasons in the Gulf, first at Dubai-based Shabab Al Ahli then at Saudi Pro league outfit Al Fateh. Stuart Armstrong Scotland international Armstrong was a quality operator after joining the Hoops from Dundee Utd in 2015. Celtic Title Party Aftermath: Nine arrested as street party descends into total chaos He recently enjoyed a short stint with old team-mate Ryan Gauld in Vancouver before returning to the UK in January when he signed for Sheffield Wednesday on a deal until the end of the season - which has now ended. Gary Hooper The Englishman scored a barrel load of goals in Glasgow after joining from Scunthorpe United in 2010. He's played for 10 clubs since completing his Hoops exit three years later - including stints in New Zealand, India, Cyprus and Dubai - but where will the 37-year-old head next after recently leaving Maldon & Tiptree? Fraser Forster Celtic have been blessed with some great goalkeepers over the last two decades - and Forster could be the best of the lot. He's now set to make a big decision on his future in football after leaving Tottenham Hotspur following the end of his contract - weeks after being part of Ange Postecoglou's Europa League winning side. Nat Philllips The centre-back was given a baptism of fire at Ibrox just weeks after moving to Glasgow, then he made his Champions League debut at Parkhead a month later. Now he's set to embark on a new chapter of his career after finally cutting ties with Liverpool following six loan spells away from Anfield. 5 Victor Wanyama He returned to Scotland in a move that rocked Scottish football when he joined Dunfermline in March - linking up with his old boss Neil Lennon until the end of the season. His short-term deal has come to an end, so he's set to be a free agent. That's if Lennon fails to tie him down on fresh terms in the coming weeks... Tony Watt He will always be remembered for that famous goal against Barcelona in 2012. Since leaving Celtic two years later, the Scottish striker has played for FIVE SPFL clubs - Hearts, St Johnstone, Motherwell, Dundee and St Mirren. And he's set to be on the move again after coming to the end of his contract at Tannadice. Christopher Jullien 5 Jullien playing for Celtic in 2019 Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Celtic spent £7million to bring the Frenchman to Glasgow in 2019 and he scored some big goals - both in Europe and against Rangers. A horror knee injury curtailed his time in Scotland, though, and he left in 2022 to join Montpellier - where he is now coming to the end of his contract. Jonjoe Kenny The former Celtoc loanee didn't cover himself in glory in Scotland - but the same can't be said for him in Germany. The right-back was a fan favourite at Herta Berlin but his time in the German capital is over after three years - and he's been linked with a move to AEK Athens, similar to out-of-contract Celtic left-back Taylor. Daniel Arzani The forgotten winger was back in the news in Scotland this month after going under the radar ever since his loan deal at Parkhead ended in 2020. Now 26, the former Australia wonderkid could make his return to the Premiership in the coming weeks as Hearts are interested in signing him on a free transfer following his exit from Melbourne City. Scott Sinclair 5 Sinclair was a fan favourite at Parkhead Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow The pacy wide-man, now 36, completed an emotional return to his boyhood club Bristol Rovers in 2022. At that time it looked like it would be the last move of his career but he's now out of contract once again and has yet to give an update on his future - or even announce his retirement. Cristian Gamboa The Costa Rica right-back left Celtic for Bochum in 2019 - and he's been there ever since. He was given an emotional send off on the final game of the season as he waved goodbye to his fans after six years at the club. Liam Henderson The 29-year-old has been in Italy for seven years since he quit Celtic for Bari in 2018. But will he head back to the UK on a free transfer this summer after running down his contract at Empoli? Several English clubs are reportedly interested in snapping him up. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool 'agree British record Florian Wirtz deal' as Reds to sign German star
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen, according to reports, with the Reds having agreed to meet the Bundesliga side's demands Liverpool have reportedly clinched a British record-breaking deal for the highly sought-after Florian Wirtz, with Bayer Leverkusen's valuation finally met by the Anfield side. The transfer saga that has dominated headlines is seemingly drawing to a close as the Reds have reached an agreement with the German club that is thought to reach their £126.9million valuation should various add-ons be met. The move will surpass the £115m Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo when they signed from Brighton two years ago. After rejecting two previous offers from Liverpool, Leverkusen stood firm on their asking price, which Liverpool have now apparently satisfied, although the specifics of the deal's structure remain undisclosed. Wirtz is poised for a medical and to put pen to paper, with reports noting that the German talent had his sights set on joining Liverpool and had agreed to terms over a fortnight ago. Despite interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich, Wirtz has opted for a future with the Merseyside outfit. The young star's ascent at the BayArena has been nothing short of spectacular, earning him the title of Bundesliga Player of the Season in the last campaign. "You have to give special players like Flo the possibility to do special things on the pitch," former Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso had enthused when discussing his prodigy. Wirtz, a European Under-21 Champion with Germany in 2021, has already racked up an impressive 29 appearances for the senior national team, netting six goals for Die Mannschaft. Former Germany gaffer and current Barcelona boss Hansi Flick praised: "Florian is just a huge asset for this team with his care-free nature. "He's simply an outstanding technician, loves to play, is very creative, has a good shot, runs hard and is quick. He's the full package."
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Emma Raducanu ‘really feeling it' at Queen's as she eases into second round
The 22-year-old, who secured a first doubles victory with partner Katie Boulter on Monday, revealed before the tournament – the first time Queen's has hosted women's tennis in 52 years – that she was still managing ongoing back issues, playing down expectations for this WTA 500 event which boasts a £1million prize pot. And though she insisted her hopes were 'staying low', Raducanu was in fine form on centre court – on Monday inaugurated as the Andy Murray Arena – where she dispatched Bucsa in just one hour and four minutes. Sharp, clean, clinical 😮💨 Just a few words to describe @EmmaRaducanu's 6-1, 6-2 performance against Bucsa.#HSBCChampionships — wta (@WTA) June 10, 2025 'I must say I was quite locked in today,' Raducanu said on court, later telling a press conference: 'I think the biggest thing I'm proud of is just the way I handled the situation. 'But, I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous before the match. The way I overcame that I think is really, for me, a great achievement. 'I think I built my way into the match. I didn't necessarily feel (locked in) from the get-go, but I think as the match went on, I definitely got that. I was really feeling it.' Those back niggles have not entirely disappeared, but Raducanu was clearly enjoying herself. She added: 'I play my best when my personality is put on the court and I can express myself, and I feel like sometimes when I've been constrained to play a certain way, it hasn't necessarily worked, and I just need to be free and expressive and then certain moments of creativity can come up. 'I mean, it's easier said than done to be yourself, especially when you're on such a big stage, but for sure when I'm playing freely, when I'm swinging and taking on chances, that is when I'm at my best. Yeah, then I think as that happened today, I could kind of relax into it and more and more could come up.' Raducanu faces Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova in the round of 16 on Thursday, but next up is round two of the doubles at midday on Wednesday, where she and British number one Boulter will take on Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe, who knocked out the other all-British duo, Sonay Kartal and Jodie Burrage, earlier in the afternoon. British number one Boulter also punched her ticket to the second round but in much grittier fashion, battling to a 7-6 (4) 1-6 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic. 'When I walked out it actually surpassed what I thought it would feel like when I kind of imagined it,' said Boulter, adding: 'I think it's very easy to get caught up in just trying to get your first grass court match, also coming to such an historic venue as well, which holds a lot of purpose and a lot of familiar feelings when I've come here before.' Earlier, Heather Watson set up a second-round meeting with fourth seed and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina after upsetting world number 27 Yulia Putintseva 6-4 6-3. It was not to be for British wildcard Fran Jones, however, who was defeated in straight sets 6-2 6-4 by American McCartney Kessler.
