Springboks vs Japan: Mixed history before Wembley Test
The Springboks will open their end-of-year tour with a Test against Japan at Wembley Stadium, marking the fourth clash between the two teams.
The Springboks will open their end-of-year tour with a one-off Test against Japan at London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday, 1 November.
The match will kick off at 16:10 (UK time).
This game will mark only the fourth meeting between South Africa and Japan.
Their first clash came during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, when Eddie Jones’s Brave Blossoms stunned the Springboks 34-32 in the unforgettable ‘Miracle of Brighton’.
Four years later, the Springboks did win two Tests within the space of seven weeks against Japan, firstly 41-7 in Saitama and then 26-3 in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Tokyo.
| Date | Result | Venue |
| 19 Sept 2015 | Lost 34-32 | Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton |
| 6 Sept 2019 | Won 41-7 | Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Saitama |
| 20 Oct 2019 | Won 26-3 | Tokyo Stadium, Chofu, Tokyo |
Tests at Wembley
South Africa have played only one official Test at Wembley, when Gary Teichmann captained the Springboks under coach Nick Mallett to a 28-20 victory over Wales in November 1998.
The Springboks also played at the iconic north London venue in 2016, when they drew 31-all against the Barbarians.
‘High-tempo rugby’
Current Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus expressed his delight at the addition of the Japan clash to South Africa’s Test schedule.
“We are delighted to be starting off our tour of the northern hemisphere with a match against Japan at the iconic Wembley Stadium, especially ahead of a challenging Outgoing Tour which kicks off a week later with the first official Test of the November window against France in Paris,” said Erasmus.
“The last time the Springboks played at Wembley was in 2016 against the Barbarians, in a tense affair which went down to the wire in a 31-31 drawn match.
“The Brave Blossoms are renowned for playing fast, attacking, high-tempo rugby – which has been prevalent in our last two encounters, before and during the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.
“We have had fantastic support from our fans in the UK for our fixtures in London over the past few years and I am sure this match will be no different, especially being at one of the most famous sporting venues in the world.”
Get your tickets
Tickets for the match are now on sale via Ticketmaster.co.uk, starting from £55* for adults and £27.50* for Under-16s.
Adult Group Rates are available with a 10% discount on 10 or more tickets purchased. Hospitality packages are also available, visit www.wembleystadium.com/experiences.
*Booking fees apply.