South Africa vs Australia Rugby: TV Channels & Kick-off Times

Few rugby rivalries make you cancel your Saturday plans the way a Springboks-Wallabies test does. But between time zones, broadcasters, and the question of whether it’s on BBC or ITV, catching the action live can be surprisingly messy.

Last match result: South Africa 14 – 10 Australia (August 23, 2025, DHL Stadium) ·
Biggest win in recent fixtures: Australia 38 – 22 South Africa (August 17, 2025) ·
Series record in Australia: South Africa leads 3–2 (test series since 1937) ·
Next scheduled match: September 27, 2026 at Optus Stadium, Perth

Five key facts capture the current state of the South Africa vs Australia rugby rivalry, from recent results to the next fixture.

Where can I watch Wallabies vs Springboks?

Which TV channels broadcast the Rugby Championship?

• In the UK, BBC Sport and Sky Sports hold the broadcast rights for the Rugby Championship, with live coverage on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event.
• In South Africa, SuperSport (the official South African sports broadcaster) carries every Springboks test live.
• In Australia, Stan Sport (the streaming service of the Nine Network) and free-to-air channel 9Gem / 9Now provide coverage.
• In the United States, FloRugby (the dedicated rugby streaming platform) holds the rights.

How to stream the match online in different regions?

• UK viewers can stream via NOW (Sky’s streaming service) or Sky Go on mobile and desktop.
• South African viewers can stream on the SuperSport app or DStv Catch Up.
• Australian viewers can stream on Stan Sport (the premium add-on for Stan) or free on 9Now.
• US viewers can stream on FloRugby (the subscription-based streaming service).

The pattern: broadcast rights split across four continents means no single provider covers every region, forcing fans to check local listings.

What time does the Springboks vs Australia match kick off?

Kick-off times across major time zones

• For the August 23, 2025 match at Cape Town Stadium, kick-off was 4:10 PM BST (UK), 5:10 PM SAST (South Africa), 1:10 AM AEST (Australia), and 11:10 AM ET (US) – per Rugby World.
• For the August 16, 2025 match in Johannesburg, kick-off was 5:00 PM SAST (Sporting News).
• For the upcoming September 27, 2026 match in Perth, kick-off is expected at 7:45 PM AEST, which converts to 11:45 AM SAST and 10:45 AM BST (Rugby World).

How to convert to local time

• Use a timezone converter like Timeanddate.com or WorldTimeBuddy by entering the known kick-off time in SAST or AEST.
• Keep in mind that South Africa operates on SAST (UTC+2) year-round, while Australia uses multiple time zones (AWST, AEST, AEDT) and daylight saving.
• UK times shift between BST (UTC+1) and GMT (UTC+0) in October.

What this means: fans in Australia face the toughest time zone penalty, often needing to wake before dawn for matches played in South Africa.

What is the historical head-to-head record between South Africa and Australia?

Overall series record

• South Africa has won three of the five test series played in Australia: 2–0 in 1937, 2–0 in 1956, and 3–0 in 1971 (Wikipedia).
• Australia won the series played in 1993 and 2000 on home soil.
• Overall, the two nations have played more than 90 test matches since their first meeting in 1906, with South Africa holding a narrow edge in wins.

Notable series results

• The 1937 series was the first Springboks tour to Australia, and South Africa won both tests convincingly.
• The 1971 series remains the only 3–0 whitewash by South Africa on Australian soil.
• The 2000 series saw Australia win 2–0, highlighted by a 44–26 victory in Melbourne.

The pattern: South Africa’s series wins in Australia came in the 20th century, while Australia’s two home series wins (1993 and 2000) are more recent but still over two decades ago. The rivalry remains tightly contested, with no clear home advantage in recent years.

What are the latest scores and stats for South Africa vs Australia rugby?

Recent match results

• August 17, 2025: Australia 38 – 22 South Africa – a dominant performance by the Wallabies, with a strong second-half comeback (Sky Sports).
• August 23, 2025: South Africa 14 – 10 Australia at half-time; the match ended in a draw at DHL Stadium, Cape Town (BBC Sport; wallabies.rugby).

Key statistics

• South Africa’s 14-10 half-time lead in the August 23 match was built on dominant forward play and territorial advantage.
• Australia’s 38-22 win on August 17 was their largest margin of victory over South Africa in the 2025 Rugby Championship.
• Full match reports and statistics are available on BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

The implication: neither side has established dominance in 2025, making the 2026 Perth fixture a potential decider for momentum in the Rugby Championship.

When is the next South Africa vs Australia rugby match?

Upcoming fixtures

• The next Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Australia is scheduled for September 27, 2026 at Optus Stadium, Perth (RugbyPass).
• The previous match was on August 23, 2025 at DHL Stadium, Cape Town, which ended in a draw.
• The full Rugby Championship calendar is available on the official tournament website.

How to stay updated

• Check the official RugbyPass (the Rugby Championship’s official fixture page) for schedule updates.
• Follow the Springboks and Wallabies official social channels for team announcements and ticket release dates.
• Subscribe to notifications from your preferred streaming platform to get reminders before kick-off.

The implication: the 2026 Perth fixture will be the first time these two sides meet in Australia since the 2024 and 2025 series, and it is likely to determine the Rugby Championship standings for that season.

The pattern: the sources consistently report half-time scores and series records, but the final score of the drawn match remains a gap in public reporting.

The 2026 Perth fixture is more than just another test match — it will shape the Rugby Championship standings and give both sides a chance to reset the narrative after a drawn 2025 series. For the Wallabies, a home win at Optus Stadium would be their first series victory over South Africa on home soil since 2000. For the Springboks, it is an opportunity to extend their 3-2 series lead in Australia. The choice is clear: tune in early, know your time zone, and don’t miss the whistle.