The Springboks will launch their 2026 campaign against the Barbarians in Gqeberha before diving headfirst into a brutal new-look Test schedule packed with heavyweight clashes against the All Blacks, England and Ireland.
But while excitement is building around another massive international season, Rassie Erasmus faces a growing injury crisis that could force the Bok boss into experimenting with fresh combinations and an expanded squad.
With several senior stars already sidelined — and others racing against time to prove their fitness — here’s the latest Springbok injury report ahead of the 2026 season.
Springboks injury report
Props
Frans Malherbe – Battling ongoing back and neck issues, with a return targeted for later in the year.
Trevor Nyakane – Remains out after a lengthy injury layoff, with no clear return date confirmed.
Hookers
Bongi Mbonambi – Injury ended his domestic season early and he’s expected to miss the opening Test window.
Locks
RG Snyman – Suffered a ruptured ACL and has officially been ruled out for the entire 2026 season.
Lood de Jager – Recovering from hip surgery and aiming for an August comeback.
Eben Etzebeth – Managing a hip injury but expected to return during July.
Salmaan Moerat – Closing in on a comeback after toe surgery.
Loose forwards
Ruan Venter – Serious knee injury requiring surgery has ruled him out for the 2026 Test season.
Pieter-Steph du Toit – Recovering from shoulder surgery and could return by late May or early June.
Siya Kolisi – Nursing a calf strain with an expected return in early June.
Scrumhalves
Morné van den Berg – Torn bicep surgery sidelines him for up to six months.
Cobus Reinach – Knee injury expected to keep him out until July.
Jaden Hendrikse – Currently undergoing concussion protocols after repeated head knocks and has been stood down indefinitely.
Grant Williams – Remains sidelined, with no confirmed return timeline.
Outside backs
Ethan Hooker – Recovering from shoulder surgery and expected back around late July or August.
Aphelele Fassi – Also recovering from shoulder surgery, with a mid-to-late June return pencilled in.
Springboks 2026 fixture list
Saturday 20 June
Springboks v Barbarians
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15:00
Nations Championship
Saturday 4 July
Boks v England
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:40
Saturday 11 July
Boks v Scotland
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:40
Saturday 18 July
Boks v Wales
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:40
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry
Saturday 22 August
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:00
Saturday 29 August
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:00
Saturday 5 September
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:00
Saturday 12 September
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
Kick-off: 18:00 (expected)
Once-off Test
Sunday 27 September
Wallabies v Boks
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 11:30
End-of-year tour
Saturday 7 November
Italy v Boks
Venue: TBC
Kick-off: 16:00
Friday 13 November
France v Boks
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 22:00
Saturday 21 November
Ireland v Boks
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 19:30
27–29 November – Finals Weekend
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: TBC
Highest Paid Rugby Player In The World EVERY Year (1995–2026)
In the late 90s, £80k in rugby union basically made you Jeff Bezos.
Former rugby league powerhouse Va’aiga Tuigamala became one of the first genuine marquee stars of the professional era after joining Newcastle Falcons, helping turn the club into English rugby’s early spenders.
At the time, players were still getting used to concepts like contracts, agents and being paid more than a PE teacher.
1999–2001: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand Rugby, approximately £550,000)
Now we’re talking.
Rugby’s first global superstar reportedly signed a revolutionary NZRU deal worth around NZ$1.5 million annually — an eye-watering figure at the time.
The contract included image rights and commercial agreements no other All Black had, largely because no other All Black was Jonah Lomu.
New Zealand Rugby essentially looked at the rest of the world circling and said: “Absolutely not.”
For context, many international players elsewhere were still earning less than decent Championship footballers.
2001–2003: Martin Johnson / Jonny Wilkinson (Leicester Tigers / Newcastle Falcons, £200,000–£250,000)
England’s World Cup generation became rugby’s first properly marketable stars.
Martin Johnson was the intimidating captain every club wanted, while Jonny Wilkinson was rapidly becoming rugby’s version of a national treasure — albeit one who tackled like a back-rower and trained like a Navy SEAL.
The salaries still look modest now, but at the time they were massive.
2003–2007: Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons, approximately £400,000–£500,000 including endorsements)
After England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson became rugby union’s biggest commercial figure by an absolute mile.
Sponsors loved him. Fans adored him. Opposition forwards feared him.
Between salary, endorsements and image rights, Wilkinson likely sat comfortably at the top of rugby’s rich list during the mid-2000s — all while somehow remaining painfully humble about the whole thing.
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25 May 2026
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The Springboks will launch their 2026 campaign against the Barbarians in Gqeberha before diving headfirst into a brutal new-look Test schedule packed with heavyweight clashes against the All Blacks, England and Ireland.
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But while excitement is building around another massive international season, Rassie Erasmus faces a growing injury crisis that could force the Bok boss into experimenting with fresh combinations and an expanded squad.
With several senior stars already sidelined — and others racing against time to prove their fitness — here’s the latest Springbok injury report ahead of the 2026 season.
Springboks injury report
Props
Hookers
Locks
Loose forwards
Scrumhalves
Outside backs
Springboks 2026 fixture list
Saturday 20 June
Springboks v Barbarians
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Kick-off: 15:00
Nations Championship
Saturday 4 July
Boks v England
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:40
Saturday 11 July
Boks v Scotland
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17:40
Saturday 18 July
Boks v Wales
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:40
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry
Saturday 22 August
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:00
Saturday 29 August
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:00
Saturday 5 September
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:00
Saturday 12 September
Boks v All Blacks
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
Kick-off: 18:00 (expected)
Once-off Test
Sunday 27 September
Wallabies v Boks
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 11:30
End-of-year tour
Saturday 7 November
Italy v Boks
Venue: TBC
Kick-off: 16:00
Friday 13 November
France v Boks
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 22:00
Saturday 21 November
Ireland v Boks
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 19:30
27–29 November – Finals Weekend
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: TBC
Highest Paid Rugby Player In The World EVERY Year (1995–2026)
Here’s how the money escalated.
1997–1998: Va’aiga Tuigamala (Newcastle Falcons, £80,000)
In the late 90s, £80k in rugby union basically made you Jeff Bezos.
Former rugby league powerhouse Va’aiga Tuigamala became one of the first genuine marquee stars of the professional era after joining Newcastle Falcons, helping turn the club into English rugby’s early spenders.
At the time, players were still getting used to concepts like contracts, agents and being paid more than a PE teacher.
1999–2001: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand Rugby, approximately £550,000)
Now we’re talking.
Rugby’s first global superstar reportedly signed a revolutionary NZRU deal worth around NZ$1.5 million annually — an eye-watering figure at the time.
The contract included image rights and commercial agreements no other All Black had, largely because no other All Black was Jonah Lomu.
New Zealand Rugby essentially looked at the rest of the world circling and said: “Absolutely not.”
For context, many international players elsewhere were still earning less than decent Championship footballers.
2001–2003: Martin Johnson / Jonny Wilkinson (Leicester Tigers / Newcastle Falcons, £200,000–£250,000)
England’s World Cup generation became rugby’s first properly marketable stars.
Martin Johnson was the intimidating captain every club wanted, while Jonny Wilkinson was rapidly becoming rugby’s version of a national treasure — albeit one who tackled like a back-rower and trained like a Navy SEAL.
The salaries still look modest now, but at the time they were massive.
2003–2007: Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons, approximately £400,000–£500,000 including endorsements)
After England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson became rugby union’s biggest commercial figure by an absolute mile.
Sponsors loved him. Fans adored him. Opposition forwards feared him.
Between salary, endorsements and image rights, Wilkinson likely sat comfortably at the top of rugby’s rich list during the mid-2000s — all while somehow remaining painfully humble about the whole thing.
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