Here’s a comprehensive summary of all the major rugby events scheduled for the 2025 calendar.

The 2024 rugby season delivered some remarkable moments in the oval ball sport, some of which will be remembered for years to come.

There was the Springboks’ blockbuster two-Test series against Ireland and their two Rugby Championship showdowns against the All Blacks, all on home soil; while in the abbreviated format of the game, the Blitzboks finally ended their title drought at the Cape Town Sevens tournament.

In the club rugby scene, rugby enthusiasts were treated to an instant Champions Cup classic between Toulouse and Leinster in the final; while the Sharks (Currie Cup), Glasgow Warriors (URC), Toulouse (Top 14), Northampton (English Premiership) and Brave Lupus (Japanese League One) were all crowned champions of their respective national leagues.

But that is now all water under the bridge, so let’s focus on what lies ahead.

These are the major events in rugby throughout 2025 that you should take note of and pencil in your diary.

RUGBY DATES TO DIARISE IN 2025

Six Nations (31 January – 15 March)

The annual Six Nations Championship – contested by European giants England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – will kick off at the end of the month and come to a climatic end mid-March.

As it stands, Ireland and France are the powerhouses of European rugby. Both of these sides are heavily favoured for Championship honours over the rest of the competing pack and with 2.27 rating points separating them in second than fourth place in the Test rankings, either one of them could usurp the Springboks at the top of the pile while also topping the All Blacks in second spot.

Additionally, Ireland and France have – interchangeably – worn the moniker of best Test team in the world, ahead of the Springboks and All Blacks. This will serve as an opportunity to prove just how good they are.

Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals (23 and 24 May)

The European Cup finals will take place a day apart towards the end of May. And while the Champions Cup is undoubted the main event out of the two, both competitions are held in high reward.

With both the Sharks and Stormers still in the running (barely) for Champions Cup honours, there could well be a South African representative contesting the final (wishful thinking?) on the 24 May.

And the same applies for the Challenge Cup, where the same Cheetahs and Lions could also potentially, but not likely, reach the title decider on 23 May.

United Rugby Championship final (14 June)

Then we come to the United Rugby Championship, the cross-hemisphere is arguably the most competitive club rugby competition at the moment.

With teams from South Africa, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, it’s tough to predict which of the 16 competing sides will make the final, but it’s worth noting that since the inception of the competition in its current guise, a South African team has made the final every time and it has been hosted in the republic every time too.

Let’s hope that is the case again by the time the final rolls around on 14 June.

British and Irish Lions tour to Australia (28 June – 2 August)

Every four years, this is British and Irish Lions tour is the most eagerly anticipated event on the rugby schedule.

A once in a lifetime experience for many a players and spectators because it happens in the host countries(Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) every 12 years respectively.

As for the tour itself, the Lions are clear-cut favourites, but expect a helluva fight from the resurgent Wallabies, who have shown a lot of promise and growth in 2024 under new coach Joe Schmidt.

Springboks mid-year Tests (5-19 July)

The Boks are back and ready to rumble. After their impressive 13-Test (11 wins and two defeats) campaign in 2024, Rassie Erasmus’ men return to action with three games July.

The first two Tests of the season are against the Italian Azzurri, followed by a clash against Georgia.

These run-outs will serve as the perfect platform for Erasmus to blood in new players and try several different combinations in preparation the Rugby Championship and to a wider extent the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby Championship (16 August – 4 October)

The best of the best from south will square off between mid-August and early October in a battle for the 2025 Rugby Championship crown.

While the Springboks and All Blacks have primarily dominated this competition in recent years, Argentina’s extended stay in the title race last season and Australia’s continued improvement will spice things up a little in 2025.

And therein lies the beauty of this premier event, no one team is guaranteed success over the others.

Women’s Rugby World Cup (22 August -27 September)

England will host the month-long 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup between August and September and as the current No 1-ranked team in the world, they are tipped to lift the trophy on home soil.

Meanwhile, the Springbok Women have been drawn in Pool D alongside France, Italy and Brazil and are in the a real shot at qualifying for the playoffs.

The Bok Women, under coach Swys de Bruin, will their pool games against Italy on Brazil on 24 August, Italy on 31 August and France on 7 September.

Springboks vs All Blacks (6 and 13 September)

This could easily have been mentioned under the Rugby Championship, but as rugby’s blue-ribbon fixture, these two showdowns deserve special mention.

What makes this year’s clashes especially enticing is the fact that this might be the Springboks single greatest opportunity to end the All Blacks’ utter dominated unbeaten streak – dating back to 1994 – at Eden Park.

On their part, the All Blacks will not only be out to defend their remarkable home record, but also to avenge their twin defeats to their arch rivals on consecutive weekends at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium in 2024.

WILL THE SPRINGBOKS FINISH 2025 AS WORLD RUGBY’S NO 1-RANKED TEAM?

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