RUGBY CHAMPS KICK-OFF TIMES CONFIRMED: BOKS GET AFTERNOON GAME IN BRISBANE
The World Cup winners from 2023, the Springboks, will play a rare afternoon game in Australia when they take on the Wallabies in their opening match of the 2024 Rugby Championship later this year.
This was confirmed by Sanzaar yesterday when the fixtures and kickoff times for the competition were finalised.
The Rugby Championship reverts to its 12-match schedule this year after a shortened version of the competition was in place last year to accommodate the Rugby World Cup.
The Boks play Australia in two matches Down Under, in Brisbane and Perth, before returning home for two matches against New Zealand, in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
They complete their programme with an away match against Argentina, in Santiago (kick-off 11 pm SA time) — a new venue for the Boks — before their final match takes place in Mbombela, also against Argentina.
FULL RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE Round 1
Australia v South Africa
Date: Saturday, August 10
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Local kick-off: 2.45 pm
RSA kick-off: 6.45 am
New Zealand v Argentina
Date: Saturday, August 10 Venue: SKY Stadium, Wellington Local kick-off: 7.05 pm RSA kick-off: 9.05 am
Round 2
New Zealand v Argentina
Date: Saturday, August 17 Venue: Eden Park, Auckland Local kick-off: 7.05 pm
RSA kick-off: 9.05 am
Australia v South Africa
Date: Saturday, August 17 Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth Local kick-off: 5.55 pm
RSA kick-off: 11.55 am
Round 3
South Africa v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, August 31 Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg Local kick-off: 5 pm
RSA kick-off: 5 pm
Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday, August 31
Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, Buenos Aires Local kick-off: 4 pm
RSA kick-off: 9 pm
Round 4
South Africa v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, September 7 Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Local kick-off: 5 pm
RSA kick-off: 5 pm
Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday, September 7
Venue: Brigadier Estanislao Lopez Stadium, Santa Fe Local kick-off: 4 pm
RSA kick-off: 9 pm
Round 5
Australia v New Zealand
Date: Saturday, September 21* Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney Local kick-off: 3.55 pm
RSA kick-off: 7.55 am
Argentina v South Africa
Date: Saturday, September 21
Venue: Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago Local kick-off: 6 pm
RSA kick-off: 11 pm
Round 6
New Zealand v Australia
Date: Saturday, September 28 Venue: SKY Stadium, Wellington Local kick-off: 7.05 pm
RSA kick-off: 9.05 am
South Africa v Argentina
Date: Saturday, September 28
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit Local kick-off: 5 pm
RSA kick-off: 5 pm.