South Africa
2023 Rugby World Cup Champions
SANZAARWorld Champions 1995, 2007, 2019, 2023492 tests · 1906–2026 · 63.8% won
RivalriesSouth Africa–New Zealand rivalryvs New Zealand★ Top Rivalrytwo-wayMandela Challenge Platevs Australiatwo-way
All-time test record
Played492Won / Lost / Drawn314–160–18Points for / against12,082 / 8,316Win rate63.8%
World Rugby ranking
Current#1Peak (since 2003)#1 (2007-10-22)Weeks at #1329
Honours
Rugby World Cup4× (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023) · 8 tournaments · 4 finals · 6 semi-finals
Tri Nations / Rugby Championship6× (1998, 2004, 2009, 2019, 2024, 2025)
South Africa's greatest tests
This nation's highest-rated internationals by Game Score, drawn from the all-time ranking on the hub.
| # | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 Oct 2023 · 12–11 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Final · Saint-Denis | 100 |
| 2 | 24 Jun 1995 · 15–12 · 1995 Rugby World Cup · Final · Johannesburg | 100 |
| 3 | RWCSouth Africa v England 21 Oct 2023 · 16–15 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Semi-Final · Saint-Denis | 96 |
| 4 | RWCNew Zealand v South Africa 24 Oct 2015 · 20–18 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Semi-Final · London | 94 |
| 5 | 15 Oct 2023 · 29–28 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Quarter-Final · Saint-Denis | 93 |
| 6 | 19 Sep 2015 · 34–32 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Brighton | 93 |
| 7 | RWCSouth Africa v Wales 27 Oct 2019 · 19–16 · 2019 Rugby World Cup · Semi-Final · Yokohama | 92 |
| 8 | RWCAustralia v South Africa 9 Oct 2011 · 11–9 · 2011 Rugby World Cup · Quarter-Final · Wellington | 91 |
| 9 | RWCSouth Africa v Wales 17 Oct 2015 · 23–19 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Quarter-Final · London | 87 |
| 10 | RWCSouth Africa v France 17 Jun 1995 · 19–15 · 1995 Rugby World Cup · Semi-Final · Durban | 87 |
| 11 | 5 Oct 2013 · 38–27 · 2013 Rugby Championship · Johannesburg | 87 |
| 12 | 15 Sep 2018 · 36–34 · 2018 Rugby Championship · Wellington | 87 |
Season by season
Championship and World Cup campaigns on file; W marks a title, GS a Grand Slam, TC a Triple Crown.
Rugby Championship
2025Place 1W
Rugby Championship
2024Place 1W
Rugby Championship
2023Place 2
Rugby World Cup · B
2023Place —W · Final
Rugby Championship
2022Place 2
Rugby Championship
2021Place 3
Rugby Championship
2019Place 1W
Rugby World Cup · B
2019Place —W · Final
Rugby Championship
2018Place 2
Rugby Championship
2017Place 3
Rugby Championship
2016Place 3
Rugby Championship
2015Place 4
Rugby World Cup · B
2015Place —SF
Rugby Championship
2014Place 2
Rugby Championship
2013Place 2
Rugby Championship
2012Place 2
Rugby World Cup · D
2011Place —QF
Tri Nations Series
2011Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2010Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2009Place 1W
Tri Nations Series
2008Place 3
Rugby World Cup · A
2007Place —W · Final
Tri Nations Series
2007Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2006Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2005Place 2
Tri Nations Series
2004Place 1W
Rugby World Cup · C
2003Place —QF
Tri Nations Series
2003Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2002Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2001Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2000Place 3
Rugby World Cup · A
1999Place —SF
Tri Nations Series
1999Place 3
Tri Nations Series
1998Place 1W
Tri Nations Series
1997Place 2
Tri Nations Series
1996Place 2
Rugby World Cup · A
1995Place —W · Final
| Season | Competition | Place | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rugby Championship | 1 | W |
| 2024 | Rugby Championship | 1 | W |
| 2023 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2023 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | W · Final |
| 2022 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2021 | Rugby Championship | 3 | |
| 2019 | Rugby Championship | 1 | W |
| 2019 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | W · Final |
| 2018 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2017 | Rugby Championship | 3 | |
| 2016 | Rugby Championship | 3 | |
| 2015 | Rugby Championship | 4 | |
| 2015 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | SF |
| 2014 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2013 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2012 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2011 | Rugby World Cup · D | — | QF |
| 2011 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2010 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2009 | Tri Nations Series | 1 | W |
| 2008 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2007 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | W · Final |
| 2007 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2006 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2005 | Tri Nations Series | 2 | |
| 2004 | Tri Nations Series | 1 | W |
| 2003 | Rugby World Cup · C | — | QF |
| 2003 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2002 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2001 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2000 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 1999 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | SF |
| 1999 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 1998 | Tri Nations Series | 1 | W |
| 1997 | Tri Nations Series | 2 | |
| 1996 | Tri Nations Series | 2 | |
| 1995 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | W · Final |
Head-to-head
New Zealand110 tests
W
43
L
63
D
4
Australia97 tests
W
53
L
41
D
3
England48 tests
W
30
L
16
D
2
France47 tests
W
29
L
12
D
6
Wales45 tests
W
37
L
7
D
1
Argentina40 tests
W
35
L
4
D
1
Scotland31 tests
W
26
L
5
D
0
Ireland31 tests
W
20
L
10
D
1
Italy19 tests
W
18
L
1
D
0
Samoa5 tests
W
5
L
0
D
0
Japan3 tests
W
2
L
1
D
0
Romania2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
Canada2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
Uruguay2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
Tonga2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
United States2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
Fiji2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
Namibia2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
Spain1 tests
W
1
L
0
D
0
Georgia1 tests
W
1
L
0
D
0
| Opponent | Tests | W | L | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 110 | 43 | 63 | 4 |
| Australia | 97 | 53 | 41 | 3 |
| England | 48 | 30 | 16 | 2 |
| France | 47 | 29 | 12 | 6 |
| Wales | 45 | 37 | 7 | 1 |
| Argentina | 40 | 35 | 4 | 1 |
| Scotland | 31 | 26 | 5 | 0 |
| Ireland | 31 | 20 | 10 | 1 |
| Italy | 19 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Samoa | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Romania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Canada | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tonga | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| United States | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiji | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Namibia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recent tests
Wales2026-07-18
W 43-02026 Nations ChampionshipHollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Scotland2026-07-11
W 42-282026 Nations ChampionshipLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria
England2026-07-04
W 45-212026 Nations ChampionshipEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wales2025-11-29
W 73-02025 Autumn InternationalMillennium Stadium, Cardiff
Ireland2025-11-22
W 24-132025 Autumn InternationalAviva Stadium, Dublin
Italy2025-11-15
W 32-142025 Autumn InternationalAllianz Stadium, Turin
France2025-11-08
W 32-172025 Autumn InternationalStade de France, Saint-Denis
Japan2025-11-01
W 61-72025 Autumn InternationalWembley Stadium, London
Argentina2025-10-04
W 29-272025 Rugby ChampionshipTwickenham Stadium, London
Argentina2025-09-27
W 67-302025 Rugby ChampionshipKings Park Stadium, Durban
New Zealand2025-09-13
W 43-102025 Rugby ChampionshipWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
New Zealand2025-09-06
L 17-242025 Rugby ChampionshipEden Park, Auckland
| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-18 | Wales | W 43-0 | 2026 Nations Championship | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban |
| 2026-07-11 | Scotland | W 42-28 | 2026 Nations Championship | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2026-07-04 | England | W 45-21 | 2026 Nations Championship | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg |
| 2025-11-29 | Wales | W 73-0 | 2025 Autumn International | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |
| 2025-11-22 | Ireland | W 24-13 | 2025 Autumn International | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
| 2025-11-15 | Italy | W 32-14 | 2025 Autumn International | Allianz Stadium, Turin |
| 2025-11-08 | France | W 32-17 | 2025 Autumn International | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| 2025-11-01 | Japan | W 61-7 | 2025 Autumn International | Wembley Stadium, London |
| 2025-10-04 | Argentina | W 29-27 | 2025 Rugby Championship | Twickenham Stadium, London |
| 2025-09-27 | Argentina | W 67-30 | 2025 Rugby Championship | Kings Park Stadium, Durban |
| 2025-09-13 | New Zealand | W 43-10 | 2025 Rugby Championship | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington |
| 2025-09-06 | New Zealand | L 17-24 | 2025 Rugby Championship | Eden Park, Auckland |
From the project rugby workbook (results since 1871) and the weekly World Rugby rankings since 2003. See the methodology on the hub.