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The match between the Springboks and All Blacks in Baltimore, USA, is part of a series that goes beyond simply presenting the greatest rivalry to a new audience. Although the teams have played each other in various locations over the past 125 years, this fourth match in the series in Baltimore looks unusual.

Rugby fans from Christchurch to Cape Town wondered about the choice of Baltimore. The answer lies in both strategic and political aspects, but primarily in financial ones. Holding the event in US dollars will ensure a significant financial inflow for both South Africa and New Zealand ahead of the financially challenging year of 2027.

It is predicted that the Baltimore match will bring SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby an additional $4 to $6 million compared to what would have been earned if the game had taken place in South Africa. Furthermore, World Rugby is paying SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby an undisclosed bonus for hosting one of the largest international rugby matches in the United States.

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry

The political underpinning of the battle in Baltimore is linked to World Rugby's constant efforts to awaken what the organization considers a sleeping giant. Spreading the culture of rugby to new territories is one of the main goals of the global governing body, which has strived to reach New World markets for generations.

Although rugby exists in the US almost as long as it has in South Africa and New Zealand, dating back to the 1860s, it has barely taken root in the United States, unlike the impressive growth in South Africa and New Zealand, which began thanks to British visitors.

In May 2022, World Rugby made a bold decision by awarding the 2031 men's World Cup and the 2033 women's tournament to the USA. With these tournaments approaching, there is pressure for the sport not to end up in America with empty stadiums and indifference. Therefore, it is encouraged for top-tier teams to bring their best players to the US so that American sports fans can experience elite international rugby.

In recent years, New Zealand and Ireland have held matches in Chicago, and the Springboks played Wales in Washington in 2018; last year, England also played the USA Eagles.

World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin stated: 'Bringing top-class rugby to key US cities is at the heart of our market expansion strategy ahead of the World Cups in the US.' He added: 'There is nothing greater than the rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa, and the opportunity to showcase the best of our sport in Baltimore is aimed at inspiring more sports fans in the US to love rugby.'

The choice of Baltimore may also indicate the city's ambitions as a potential host center for the 2031 World Cup. Marco Massotti, owner of the Sharks from New York, believes that Baltimore's location makes it an attractive option. Twenty-seven cities have applied for the 2031 World Cup.

Massotti noted: 'Baltimore is roughly halfway between Washington and New York on the East Coast and close to both, making it a much more accessible location for European fans than West Coast cities.' He also mentioned that for South Africans, New York is seven hours away from London, and a direct flight from Johannesburg to Washington takes about 18 hours.

According to Massotti, the NFL schedule was also involved in the process. The American football season started in early September, but the Baltimore Ravens did not have a home game on September 12, which allowed M&T Bank Stadium to be available for this rugby block. The stadium has another advantage for players: it is one of the few NFL venues with natural grass, meaning neither the Springboks nor the All Blacks will face controversial synthetic pitches found at some American football stadiums.

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer reported that the opportunity to play in the US came through a promoter. He stated: 'It made sense because within World Rugby we agreed to expand the sport in America.' He continued: 'It happened at a good time for us to play in America. Nike, as our sponsor, considers it important that we establish the brand there. The Springboks are the only team sponsored by Nike, so we must work on those relationships. Coca-Cola, as an international sponsor, is also interested in us advancing in the States.'

Oberholzer believes the match may also help strengthen the Springboks' fan base ahead of the 2031 World Cup. There is already a significant community of South African expats in the US, estimated at 150,000–180,000 people, but SA Rugby aims for the Springboks to be more than just a curiosity among expats.

'The number of South Africans in America who want to see the Boks play is growing,' said Oberholzer. 'But we want to establish ourselves as a team known by most Americans who will support rugby.'

This is where strategic and financial motives intersect. The Baltimore match will take place a year before the World Cup in Australia, and World Cup years have historically been financially difficult for SA Rugby. South Africa will only have three home matches in 2027 before heading to Australia to defend the Webb Ellis Cup. This means only three opportunities for substantial income from match day, which comes from ticket sales, hospitality, sponsorship, and broadcasting rights.

Oberholzer does not try to hide the importance of maximizing revenue this year. He emphasized: 'This match has always been about finding an option where we could achieve maximum financial benefit.' He added: 'It is crucial for SA Rugby to continue working on our financial stability. To do this, we must expand our brand beyond South Africa. We know the support we receive in London, but the US is an important market for our growth ahead of 2031.' He concluded: 'We understand the difficulties we will all face in the 2027 World Cup year. We only have three international matches in South Africa, which affects sponsorship and broadcasting rights. We must earn as much money as possible in the 2026 season and in this series so that we have some buffer with New Zealand before 2027.'

There was another question that needed to be answered: would moving one of the great rugby rivalries to a neutral venue in a country that is not a rugby hub diminish the intensity of the event? Oberholzer does not think so. He stated: 'I don't think it will be perceived as a festival match when they play in Baltimore.' He is confident: 'I don't think there will ever be a match between the Springboks and All Blacks that isn't highly intense and decisive. Anyone who knows the history of these teams understands that it can only be like that.'

Evergreen's forward, Bradley Grobler, scored his first goal of the campaign on Friday evening, managing to pull Stellenbosch FC out of a difficult situation.

Despite his age of 38, the player continues to demonstrate high productivity. He signed a one-year contract with Stellies specifically to get closer to Peter Shalulile's record for goals in the South African Premier League, which stands at 130 goals.

By scoring his first goal of the season and his 124th in his career, Grobler is now only six goals away from equaling this record.

Match action at Athlone Stadium

The match held at Athlone Stadium began at a rather cautious and intermittent pace; neither team was able to establish smooth tactical schemes in the first half.

Stellenbosch periodically created threats through long passes aimed at Raul Daniel, while Sekhukhune's best early attack was taken by Lehlogonolo Modjela, but the shot missed the target.

After the break, the tempo of the game increased, and Sekhukhune took the lead, scoring in the 63rd minute. Following this, Modjela managed to deflect a cross, and the ball ended up with Betuela Museu, who directed it into the goal from inside the six-yard box.

In response, Stellenbosch pressed the game, and Lehlogonolo Matlu blocked the shot, hitting the crossbar. However, Grobler's signature instinct appeared in the 87th minute. Rising high on the edge of the six-yard box, the veteran struck after a deep delivery from Sivive Nkvali, securing a 1-1 draw and marking the eighth draw in the last twelve meetings between the clubs.

The Iranian national basketball team managed to recover after their loss in the first match against Qatar, defeating Taipei 72:69 during the 2026 Asian Games on Saturday.

The 'Melli' team entered the game under pressure following an unexpected 59:53 defeat in their debut match in Group B, but the players demonstrated strong resistance and great composure throughout the competition.

Mohammad Jamshidi played a decisive role in Iran's success, leading the team with 18 points and providing valuable points during the most tense moments of the game.

For his part, Chen Yin-chun scored 29 points for Taipei.

This victory significantly boosted Iran's confidence during their participation in the Asian Games. The result against Taipei was a timely response after the disappointment of the match against Qatar and maintained Iran's hopes for deep advancement in the tournament.

Under Jamshidi's leadership, Iran will now focus on maintaining this momentum in the next match, scheduled for Sunday against Jordan.