Māori All Blacks to be honoured in South Africa in 2026
South African Rugby President Mark Alexander wants the Māori All Blacks in South Africa in 2026, to finally apologise to those Maori players denied an opportunity to play in South Africa during Apartheid South Africa, writes Mark Keohane.
The 2026 rugby season is shaping as the greatest in the history of South African professional rugby, with the All Blacks and Springboks to play a three-Test series for the first time since Sean Fitzpatrick’s 1996 history makers toured for eight matches and won a three-Test series 2-1. It was the first ever All Blacks series win in South Africa. It remains the only one.
Alexander, the heartbeat of transformation in today’s SA Rugby leadership, was among those players denied the chance to play international rugby pre unity. He was a driving force as a player and youthful administrator.
He experienced first-hand the heartache of apartheid South Africa and is at the forefront of a unified glorious South African rugby landscape that speaks to every South African rugby player’s Springboks aspirations.
The All Blacks will tour South Africa for two months and play three Test matches and five tour matches, four of them against the South African United Rugby Championship quartet of the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers.
Alexander knows what the Maori All Blacks meant for so many in South Africa, pre-unity, and he, in his capacity as SA Rugby President, is finally content that the rightful apology can now be made because it will be made in a fitting rugby environment that speaks to equality and equal opportunity for every player in South Africa and every player touring South Africa.
Alexander, in honouring the SARU Legends at the launch of ‘Scrumming Against All Odds’, confirmed his desire to make the Māori All Blacks visit to South Africa a reality for all the right reasons.
‘We must also acknowledge that the injustice of apartheid extended beyond our borders. The Māori All Blacks—a team rich in heritage and pride—were denied the right to tour South Africa for decades, simply because they were not white. That exclusion was a stain on our history and it is long overdue that we confront it with humility and remorse.
‘I am pleased to share that the South African Rugby Union is currently in discussion with our counterparts in New Zealand to host the Māori All Blacks for two matches on South African soil next season. These games will not only be a celebration of rugby excellence—they will be a moment of reckoning, of recognition and of reconciliation. We intend to use this occasion to formally
apologise for the discrimination they endured and to honour those who were excluded and marginalised here at home.
Scrumming Against All Odds captures this spirit. It reminds us that the soul of South African rugby was forged not only in stadiums, but in struggle,’ said Alexander.
The Springboks last played the Maori All Blacks on the ill-feted 1981 Springboks tour of New Zealand, with Colin Beck kicking the most controversial drop goal to secure a 12-12 all draw for the Boks.
WATCH: COLIN BECK’S CONTROVERSIAL DROP GOAL TO TIE THE MATCH 12-all
The Māori All Blacks have played in South Africa, as part of an invitation to the then Yardley Cup.
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