Key facts
- South Africa and New Zealand will play a rugby match in Baltimore on September 10, 2026.
- The match is nicknamed the 'money game' due to its significant revenue-generating potential.
- The two unions expect to generate up to $8 million, which they will share equally.
- The series is part of World Rugby's efforts to grow the sport in the U.S. ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
- South Africa aims for Americans to adopt the Springboks as their second-favorite team.
- This is the first time a U.S. fixture has been incorporated into a meaningful Test series between the two nations.
New Zealand and South Africa are set to clash in Baltimore on September 10, 2026, for the final match of their four-Test series, a fixture being billed as rugby's 'money game' due to its substantial commercial ambitions. The match, held at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, is expected to generate significant revenue for both unions, potentially up to $8 million to be shared equally.
This groundbreaking event is part of a concerted effort by World Rugby and the participating unions to cultivate a larger audience for the sport in the United States, which is slated to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2033. South Africa's chief executive, Rian Oberholzer, views the match as a strategic move to enhance financial stability and expand the Springboks' brand internationally, aiming for the team to become a recognized favorite among American fans.
While previous international rugby matches have been held in the U.S., this marks the first time a Test series decider between these two rugby powerhouses has been staged on American soil. World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin sees the potential for such high-profile fixtures to become regular occurrences, drawing parallels to the economic success of NFL's international games and even suggesting the possibility of staging Six Nations matches in the U.S. in the future, citing the strong presence of Irish and Italian fan bases in American cities.