Springbok Women Host Ireland in 2 WXV Tests at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town
- The Springbok Women will face fifth-ranked Ireland in two home WXV Global Series Tests in Cape Town for the first time ever
- Tickets for the matches at Athlone Stadium are priced from R50 per person, with both games scheduled for 15h00 on 24 and 31 October
- SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer believes the Tests will provide the Bok Women with a stern challenge to close out a bumper 2026 season
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Source: UGC
CAPE TOWN — The Springbok Women will close out their 2026 season with two WXV Global Series Tests against Ireland at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, with tickets now on sale through Ticketmaster.
The fixtures, scheduled for 24 and 31 October, will kick off at 15h00 on each Saturday. Tickets start at R50 per person, with a four-ticket package available for R150. Both matches are sold separately and exclusively through Ticketmaster.
First Ireland visit to South African shores
This will mark Ireland's first-ever Test match visit to South Africa. The two sides last met more than 20 years ago, at the 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup in Canada, where Ireland won 37-0.
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Ireland arrive in good form, having recorded back-to-back wins over Japan before a narrow defeat to the USA in the WXV Global Series. The side also finished third in the Women's Six Nations earlier this year, and are currently ranked fifth in the world.
The Bok Women head into the home Tests having had a mixed WXV tour, losing to Wales before bouncing back with wins over Italy and Spain. Earlier in 2026, they won the Rugby Africa Women's Cup, drew a two-Test home series with the USA, and lost to New Zealand's Black Ferns.
SA Rugby CEO sets expectations
SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer expressed confidence in the squad ahead of the fixtures, acknowledging both the challenge and the opportunity the Tests represent.
"After a wobbly start against Wales, the Springbok Women really made a step up with good victories over Italy and Spain, and we are confident they will hit the ground running when they face Ireland in a few weeks' time," Oberholzer said, according to SA Rugby.
Oberholzer stressed the importance of testing South Africa against stronger opposition, saying the two encounters with Ireland would give the Springbok Women valuable experience against a higher-ranked side. He also highlighted the team's earlier victory over the USA in Johannesburg as proof that they could compete with the world's leading teams.
“The Bok Women showed with their victory over the USA in Johannesburg earlier this season that they can take on higher-ranked teams,” he said.
Australia's Jess Ling will officiate both Tests, assisted by Zimbabwe's Precious Pazani and South Africa's Giana Viljoen. Italy's Matteo Liperini has been appointed television match official (TMO), while South African Quinton Immelman will serve as the Foul Play Review Officer.
Springbok Women finish WXV tour with 20-0 Spain victory
Briefly News previously reported that the Springbok Women completed their WXV Global Series tour with a convincing 20-0 win over Spain in Seville on 4 October 2026.
The victory was South Africa's second of the tour, following their earlier defeat to Wales and subsequent recovery against Italy.
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Source: Briefly News
