Don’t Do It, Boks: Not This Test, Not This Place.
- Nicholas Halsey
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Why the Springboks Should Think Twice Before Taking a Test to the USA
Reports have been suggesting that the Springboks and All Blacks are “close to an agreement” to play the final match of the Greatest Rugby Rivalry series in the United States later this year.
On the surface, staging such a fixture in a new market might seem exciting, but for a team that stands for inclusion, unity, and being a symbol of pride for all South Africans, doing so in the current geopolitical environment risks sending the wrong message.
The Springbok Brand Isn’t Just Commercial . It’s Cultural and National
For decades, the Springboks have stood for something far deeper than marketing or expansion into new commercial markets. They embody:
Unity across racial, cultural, and economic divides in South Africa
A history of using sport to bridge divides rather than deepen them
Representation not just of elite sport, but of the country as a whole
Across history, from at least the 1995 Rugby World Cup under Nelson Mandela to the 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs, the Boks have carried the hopes and identities of an entire nation. Rassie Erasmus has taken this even further since taking the reigns and the Bokke are now seen as a true symbol of the whole of South Africa. Asking them now to shift a marquee Test to a country where relations with South Africa have recently been tense doesn’t sit well with that legacy in my eyes.
Relations between the South African government and the U.S. have been rocky recently, marked by diplomatic rows over trade, summits, and political gestures that have been deeply polarising. For example:
The Trump administration has cut U.S. aid to South Africa and introduced highly controversial policies targeting specific South African communities, including a refugee program prioritising white South Africans, widely criticised at home and abroad.
South Africa’s ambassador was declared persona non grata by U.S. officials in a dispute tied to broader political rhetoric.
The two countries have publicly traded criticism and accusations in recent months, including over summit attendance and foreign policy disagreements.
These are not minor diplomatic differences, and whichever side of the fence you're sitting on, you can't deny that they’re headline-grabbing issues that reverberate through public consciousness on both sides of the globe.
In that context, staging one of the most globally high-profile rugby matches of the year in the USA risks inadvertently associating the Springboks with a nation currently pursuing policies seen as divisive by many South Africans.
From my perspective, alternatives such as Dublin’s Aviva Stadium or London’s Twickenham make more sense. Both are iconic rugby venues with passionate crowds and deep cultural links to the sport. They sit in regions where the Springboks have a rich and respected history. Hosting in Europe would be a celebration of rugby tradition rather than a gamble on a market with limited domestic momentum and above all else, the game is guaranteed to be a sell out, ensuring the cash injection sought out in the US anyway.
Unlike the USA, where professional rugby infrastructure still struggles to gain traction, Europe and the UK breathe rugby legacy. Attempting to “build the game” in the USA might sound appealing ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup, but it is not the Springboks’ job to develop another nation’s domestic sport, especially when their own supporters have long awaited meaningful home fixtures on big stages.
No one is suggesting that sport and international relations need to be inseparable. But timing matters.
The Springboks, a team that has actively stood for inclusivity, national unity, and representation for all South Africans, must be mindful of the symbolic weight of their decisions. Playing a key Test in a country where political rhetoric has recently been at odds with South African values, and where the governing administration promotes policies that many here find exclusionary, risks undermining that identity.
This isn’t about being political , it’s about principle and coherence. The Springboks owe their people more than a commercial experiment in a developing rugby market. They owe them consistency, solidarity, and decisions that align with the values that made them great on and off the field.
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