South Africa to face Japan at Wembley
Springboks open European tour with Japan Test at Wembley.
©Photo by Julian Finney - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
The world champions Springboks will meet Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 November.
The match will mark the opening of South Africa’s November tour of Europe. It will also be their first game at the stadium since a 31-31 draw against the Barbarians in 2016.
The clash will bring back memories of the famous “Miracle of Brighton”, when Japan shocked the rugby world with a 34-32 victory over South Africa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Since that upset, the Springboks have beaten Japan twice, including in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final.
Japan coach Eddie Jones, who also led the team in that 2015 win, said the result changed rugby forever in his country. “The game in Brighton 10 years ago changed rugby in Japan from being a minor sport to a boom sport,” he explained.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus welcomed the Wembley Test as an ideal start to their European tour.
“We are delighted to be starting off our tour with a match against Japan at the iconic Wembley Stadium,” he said, noting it would prepare the Boks well for a tough run of games against France and other northern teams.
Before meeting Japan, South Africa will play Argentina at Allianz Stadium on 4 October in their final Rugby Championship match. The Japan clash will then serve as a lead-up to their November Tests during which they will face France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
