Rugby This Weekend: Springbok Women Lead a Packed Weekend of International Action
The Springboks are off, but South African rugby still has plenty going on from Friday night through Sunday.
The Springboks might not be playing this weekend, but South African rugby fans still have plenty to put on the calendar.
The Springbok Women begin their WXV Global Series campaign against Wales in Cardiff, the next generation of South African players take the field in the SA Rugby Under-21 Shield, and the Betway Women’s Club Championship gets underway in Alberton.
Beyond South Africa, Saturday brings a heavyweight run of women’s internationals featuring England, Canada, France, Australia, Scotland and New Zealand.
And there is a little bit of context behind the quiet weekend for the men’s game: the Springboks have only just completed their four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, beating the All Blacks 43–28 in Baltimore on 12 September.
Here’s your complete rugby weekend guide for 18–20 September 2026.
Friday Night: Springbok Women Start Their WXV Campaign
The weekend starts with South Africa’s biggest rugby fixture.
The Springbok Women face Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night, opening their WXV Global Series campaign.
Wales Women vs South Africa Women
📅 Friday, 18 September
⏰ 20:15 SAST
📍 Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
🏆 WXV Global Series
The fixture marks the first meeting between the two sides in five years. World Rugby notes that Wales won their previous encounter at Cardiff Arms Park, 29–19.
South Africa have also named a new-look backline for the opener, with Logan Welman moving into the No. 8 jersey while Aseza Hele starts from the bench.
The Springbok Women arrive in Wales after another significant period for the team, including their run to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Their WXV campaign now gives them another opportunity to test themselves against leading international opposition.
And South Africa won’t have to wait long for another international.
Their next WXV fixture is against Italy on 26 September.
Saturday Is Loaded With Women’s Rugby
If Friday belongs to South Africa, Saturday belongs to the international women’s game.
Four WXV Global Series matches are scheduled across Europe.
🇮🇹 Italy vs Japan
14:30 SAST
Stadio Omero Tognon, Fontanafredda
This is another opening-round fixture for teams beginning their WXV campaigns this weekend.
England vs Canada
16:00 SAST
Sandy Park, Exeter
There’s an obvious storyline here: this is a rematch of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup final.
World Rugby has highlighted the fixture as one of the major games of the weekend.
France vs Australia
17:45 SAST
Stade Maurice-David, Aix-en-Provence
France host Australia in another heavyweight international, giving fans a chance to see two sides from the upper end of the women’s game meet during the new WXV format.
Scotland vs New Zealand
18:10 SAST
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
The reigning Women’s Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand then face Scotland in Edinburgh.
That makes Saturday evening particularly busy for anyone following the global women’s game.
South African U21 Rugby Is Also On
The senior Springbok Women aren’t the only South African teams playing.
Saturday features three SA Rugby Under-21 Shield fixtures:
Eastern Province U21 vs Border U21
13:00 — Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha
Pumas U21 vs Griffons U21
14:00 — Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit
Limpopo U21 vs Griquas U21
15:00 — Mogol RC, Lephalale
There was also a Friday fixture between SWD U21 and Boland U21, scheduled for 15:00 at Outeniqua Park in George.
For South African rugby, these competitions matter beyond the weekend itself: the provincial age-group system is part of the pathway through which players continue developing toward senior rugby.
Sunday: A New Chapter for Women’s Club Rugby
Sunday brings the start of another important South African competition.
The Betway Women’s Club Championship begins on 20 September in Alberton, Gauteng.
This is the second edition of the competition, with SA Rugby positioning it as another step in the development of women’s rugby in the country.
The tournament gives club-level players another national stage and forms part of a wider domestic structure that includes provincial and national women’s competitions.
For fans following the growth of women’s rugby in South Africa, this is one of the domestic competitions worth keeping an eye on.
Sunday Evening: Ireland vs USA
The international weekend closes in Dublin.
Ireland Women vs USA Women
📅 Sunday, 20 September
⏰ 14:45 SAST
📍 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
It is the final WXV Global Series fixture of the weekend.
What Happened to the Currie Cup?
If you’ve been looking for the Currie Cup on this weekend’s schedule, there’s a simple reason you won’t find it.
The 2026 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division final was played last weekend, with Suzuki Griquas hosting the Airlink Pumas in Kimberley on 12 September.
That competition has therefore moved out of the weekend spotlight, opening up room for the next phase of the South African rugby calendar.
And the Springboks?
The men’s national team are also taking a short break.
Their last outing was the fourth and deciding Test against New Zealand in Baltimore, where South Africa won 43–28.
Their next scheduled Test is against Australia in Perth on 27 September, so Springbok fans will have to wait another week before seeing the men’s side back in action.
That makes this weekend a useful reminder that South African rugby is much bigger than the men’s national team.
Where to Watch the WXV Matches
For South African viewers, SuperSport is the listed broadcaster for the WXV Global Series.
World Rugby also lists RugbyPass TV as the international streaming option, with different broadcasters available in selected territories.
The Weekend Rugby Cheat Sheet
| Date | Match | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 18 Sep | Wales Women vs South Africa Women | 20:15 |
| Sat 19 Sep | Eastern Province U21 vs Border U21 | 13:00 |
| Sat 19 Sep | Pumas U21 vs Griffons U21 | 14:00 |
| Sat 19 Sep | Italy Women vs Japan Women | 14:30 |
| Sat 19 Sep | Limpopo U21 vs Griquas U21 | 15:00 |
| Sat 19 Sep | England Women vs Canada Women | 16:00 |
| Sat 19 Sep | France Women vs Australia Women | 17:45 |
| Sat 19 Sep | Scotland Women vs New Zealand Women | 18:10 |
| Sun 20 Sep | Ireland Women vs USA Women | 14:45 |
| Sun 20 Sep | Betway Women’s Club Championship begins | — |
All times are South African Standard Time. SA Rugby’s current match centre confirms the international and Under-21 fixtures listed above.
The Weekend in One Sentence
No Springboks, no Currie Cup — but the Springbok Women, WXV, SA U21 rugby and the return of the Women’s Club Championship give South African fans plenty to watch.
The next major men’s international comes next weekend when the Springboks return against Australia.
For this weekend, the spotlight shifts to the women.