Rassie Erasmus has shut down talk of the Springboks joining the Six Nations, suggesting the northern hemisphere isn’t ready for South Africa – and may never be.
The world champions currently compete in the Rugby Championship alongside New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, but speculation has refused to go away over a potential switch to Europe’s elite tournament.
However, according to Rapport, those discussions have now collapsed. SA Rugby are understood to have failed to strike a deal with Six Nations investors CVC Capital Partners.
CVC, who play a major financial role in the competition, announced a £365million long-term investment in 2021. With that avenue seemingly closed, reports claim SA Rugby have opened talks with US-based Ackerley Partners, who are considering their own investment into the game.
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The upcoming 2026 Nations Championships introduced by World Rugby makes such a move even more unlikely, adding another layer of complexity to any potential expansion.
It would be a move that sends shockwaves through the rugby world – but Erasmus isn’t buying into the hype.
“Us joining the Six Nations? I’m not sure how that sits with other people,” Erasmus said.
“We admire the competition – when I was at Munster, I saw how big it really is."
While fans might salivate at the idea of South Africa clashing with England, Ireland, or France every year, Erasmus sees a major obstacle – tradition.
“There are a lot of traditions that are more valuable than us just fitting in,” he added.
“This is a competition with deep heritage. I’m not sure if we can just walk in and be accepted.”
2027 Six Nations fixtures released with nightmare start for England
Round 1
The championship begins with a heavyweight clash between Ireland and England in Dublin, while Scotland host Italy and France face Wales in Paris in an opening weekend packed with early title implications.
- Ireland v England – 20:10, February 5
- Scotland v Italy – 14:10, February 6
- France v Wales – 16:40, February 6
Round 2
Ireland travel to Italy aiming to maintain momentum, Scotland and Wales meet in a closely matched contest at Murrayfield, and England host France in the latest edition of “Le Crunch”.
- Italy v Ireland – 14:10, February 13
- Scotland v Wales – 16:40, February 13
- England v France – 15:10, February 14
Round 3
Wales welcome Ireland to Cardiff in one of the toughest fixtures of the tournament, England face Italy at Twickenham, and France take on Scotland in an attacking showdown in Paris.
- Wales v Ireland – 14:10, February 20
- England v Italy – 16:40, February 20
- France v Scotland – 15:10, February 21
Round 4
Scotland host Ireland in a potentially decisive Friday night encounter, France travel to Italy looking to stay in contention, and Wales renew their fierce rivalry with England in Cardiff.
- Scotland v Ireland – 20:10, March 5
- Italy v France – 14:10, March 6
- Wales v England – 16:40, March 6
Round 5 – Super Saturday (March 13)
Italy and Wales open the final day before England and Scotland compete for the Calcutta Cup, with Ireland and France closing the championship in a match that could decide the title.
- Italy v Wales – 14:10
- England v Scotland – 16:40
- Ireland v France – 20:10
The stage is set for another classic Six Nations campaign, with historic rivalries, passionate home crowds and the promise of drama from the opening whistle in Dublin to the final showdown on Super Saturday.
Quiz: Name the Top 10 Highest Points Scorers in Rugby History
Scoring points at Test level is one of rugby’s toughest challenges. It takes consistency, longevity and the ability to deliver under pressure against the very best teams in the world.
You have three minutes to name the top 10 highest points scorers in men’s international rugby union history. How many can you get?
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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