A year of promise and possibility

It may seem a little tardy to only be previewing 2026 and drawing up my rugby wish list now, what with the first month of the year almost in our rearview mirrors already. But let’s be honest, January is kind of like a free trial month anyway, when we’re all just feeling the new year out and deciding whether it’s worth the subscription. That’s my excuse anyway (and possibly why I haven’t taken my Christmas decorations down yet either…).

It’s also possible that I should spend more time thinking about my own goals and aspirations, instead of my hopes and dreams for my three favourite rugby teams, but how dull would that be.

Springboks

I’ve probably said this before, but I might be running out of superlatives for this Springbok team. We are truly in the most incredible era of Bok rugby, and I fear we run the risk of getting complacent about just how privileged we are to see this team playing like this (which is why that first game against Australia at Ellis last year was actually so good for us…sometimes we all need a little reminder that things can go wrong). Can we keep building on what we’ve achieved since 2023, and reach even greater heights? Not only do I hope we can, I’m sure we can.

We’re entering into a crucial phase of the World Cup cycle now, with a little over 18 months to go until the global showpiece kicks off. There’s still time to do some experimenting, but we also need to start seriously thinking about who the players are that need to be managed ahead of next year – who needs the bubble wrap, who needs to build fitness (and I am really holding thumbs that Lukhanyo Am finds his way back to form in Japan), and where might we still be falling short on depth. Obviously there’s no need for us to hope those things will happen because Rassie and the rest of our exceptional coaching team will be way ahead of everyone on that front.

But it is a big year, and we have two big tournaments to help solidify those preparations. The first of these is the inaugural Nations Championship, which kicks off in July this year. This is a bit of a weird one. They’ve essentially formalised the inbound and outbound tours into a contest with a North v South final at the end. Which is very cool – it makes those games a bit more meaningful. But the Tier 2 countries are excluded, which is less cool, especially since we’re supposed to be trying to grow the game. Either way, there are some great fixtures this year, and the most pivotal of these are probably the ones against England, who we haven’t played since RWC 2023 and who have been in fine form of late, France, and Ireland. Wins in those three games specifically are definitely on the wish list.

There’s no opportunity for the Boks to defend the Rugby Championship this year, since the tournament has been replaced by the return of a so-called traditional tour by New Zealand. I say so-called because if it was a traditional tour, we wouldn’t be playing a fixture in Baltimore, USA of all places. And honestly, if I had only one wish this year, it would be that this game was happening anywhere but there. Our beautiful rivalry has no place in the US under the current administration, and what is happening there is the absolute antithesis of everything the Springboks – a team that symbolises unity, diversity, and hope – represent. But the tickets have gone on sale, and I know that’s one wish that won’t be coming true. Perhaps I’ll just think of it as a three-match tour (and let’s face it, having an even number of games is silly since it opens the door to a drawn series) and pretend that one isn’t happening. Either way, a clean sweep of this series would be absolutely incredible. Disappointment over the US fixture aside, I really am so excited for these games – those who don’t know any better may think the series title, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, is just marketing speak. But there really is no greater game to watch then one between the two best teams in the world. I can’t wait!

Springbok Women

My biggest wish for this wonderful team this year is that they are afforded the opportunity to build on everything they achieved in 2025. It felt like there was a seismic shift in terms of awareness of the women’s team, courtesy of the Rugby World Cup. So many people discovered them, and then fell in love with them, and it was beautiful to witness. As was the Bok Women’s scrum. I hope that we see them attract even more fans, more sponsors, and more meaningful game time in 2026.

Already, we have seen the announcement of three very exciting fixtures for this year (with more to come, I’m sure). The Springbok Women will face the USA Women twice in July and the Black Ferns once in September. All three games will be played as double headers with the men’s team, ahead of their fixtures against England, Scotland, and the All Blacks, so you get two phenomenal SA teams for the price of one ticket. What more could you want, really.

The US women’s team fares far better than their men’s side, and they’re currently ranked 8^th in the world, while the Bok Women are currently 10^th. The teams have played each other on six previous occasions, with the Bok Women winning only one of those games back in 2011, but this will be the American side’s first time playing in South Africa. Of course, this is also a vastly more competitive Bok Women team than the one they faced in previous encounters, and it should make for a very interesting match-up. I’d love to see our team walk away with two victories from this series.

The last time the Bok Women played the Black Ferns was in the quarter final of RWC 2025, and while they lost that game, they put the team from New Zealand under huge pressure in the first half. The only other time the teams have played each other was in 2010, when the Black Ferns also emerged victorious. Look. It’s going to be a tough fixture. The Black Ferns are formidable. Is it too much to hope that we can get the win on home soil? Maybe…but nothing is impossible. The team can certainly take some confidence from their victory against the Black Ferns XV in a friendly last year, and even more from their performance at last year's World Cup.

More importantly, I hope this is the year we finally see players being offered the professional contracts that we’ve been hearing about since 2024. If we want the team to perform at the highest level, we need to treat them like the elite players they are.

The Sharks

Another tumultuous year is behind us, and what I really, really hope for is stability and clarity for my Sharks. They already have talent in abundance.

I think the appointment of JP Pietersen as interim head coach is already a step in the right direction. Yes, he is young, and doesn’t have much coaching experience at the senior level. But he very clearly has the backing of the team and the rest of the coaching staff. I have a lot of respect for John Plumtree as a diehard Sharks man, but there is a spark in this team now that has been missing for a while. Of course, it’s early days, but the signs are promising. And with Neil Powell, who also earned all of our respect as an exceptional 7s coach, stepping away from the senior team, the coaching set up has been simplified, which sometimes allows for better clarity. I hope that JP is afforded the opportunity to grow into this position, and the team is allowed the chance to enjoy some stability…we have had a lot of coaching changes in recent years after all (JP is the 7^th senior coach we’ve had since 2014).

Of course, we want results too. At this stage, we’re out of the running for the Champions Cup, but through to the Round of 16 for the Challenge Cup. It would be very cool to lift that trophy again, even though it’s a tough run of away games to get there. As for the URC, well, we’re heading in the right direction, and making the top 8 is certainly possible, but we haven’t made things easy for ourselves there either. Last season the team was surrounded by negativity, and still made it all the way to the semis. I’d love to see them surprise the naysayers and pull that off again this year. And if you watched them play and win against the hitherto unbeaten Stormers last weekend in Cape Town, you will know it’s possible. No matter the results, if they can keep playing like that – with flair, determination, and self-belief – my wish for 2026 will have come true. I believe they can do it.

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Beyond all of that, I hope that World Rugby stops fiddling with the laws and starts seriously considering a global calendar in the interests of player welfare. That rugby continues to be a game that brings us all together, despite our perceived differences. And that I remember to take my Christmas decorations down before February rolls around. Anything is possible, after all.