Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- The South African Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby are each expected to make R90-million extra by playing Saturday’s Test in Baltimore.
- The first three Tests reportedly brought in R60-million to R80-million each, giving both unions a major financial boost.
The Springboks and All Blacks are flying to Baltimore with serious money on the line.
According to Daily Maverick, the South African Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby are each expected to make R90-million more from Saturday’s Test than if it had been played in South Africa.
That comes after the first three matches reportedly generated between R60-million and R80-million each.
The financial reward helps explain why more than 80 players and about 40 management staff travelled from Johannesburg to the United States after the third Test in Soweto.
The Baltimore income includes a payment from World Rugby, which wants to grow rugby in America before the country hosts the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup.
World Rugby has announced plans to invest about £200-million, or R4.34-billion, in the US market over six years.
Baltimore is also one of 27 cities competing to host World Cup matches.
Saru CEO Rian Oberholzer said taking the Springboks into new markets was an important goal.
“Taking the Springboks to new audiences and territories is a key objective for South African rugby,” he said.
But the money is particularly important for Saru.
Its 2025 financial statements showed group revenue of about R2.02-billion, but the organisation still recorded a net loss of about R33-million.
Running the national teams is also expensive. Saru budgeted R221-million for national teams in 2025, while Springbok matchday costs added another R213-million.
The final numbers from the four-Test series have not been released and are expected to appear in Saru’s 2026 financial statements.
For now, Baltimore offers both unions something they could not get from another South African Test: a new market, World Rugby support and potentially tens of millions of rand in extra income.
Pictured above: The Springboks scrumming against the All Blacks.
Image source: @Springboks/X
