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Rugby - where to watch or play

Rugby is a growing sport in Germany, and there are clubs and teams across the country where you can practice and play. You can join a local rugby club to learn and play the sport, meet new people, and have fun. Rugby is a great way to stay active and be part of a team. 

📅 Upcoming Springbok Fixtures in 2026

Date Match Venue Tournament Kick-off
Sat, 4 Jul 2026 South Africa vs England Ellis Park, Johannesburg Nations Championship 17:05 SAST (TBC)
Sat, 11 Jul 2026 South Africa vs Scotland Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Nations Championship 17:05 SAST (TBC)
Sat, 18 Jul 2026 South Africa vs Wales Kings Park, Durban Nations Championship 17:05 SAST (TBC)
Sat, 22 Aug 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand (1st Test) Ellis Park, Johannesburg Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 17:05 SAST (TBC)
Sat, 29 Aug 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand (2nd Test) Cape Town Stadium Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 17:05 SAST (TBC)
Sat, 5 Sept 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand (3rd Test) FNB Stadium, Johannesburg Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 17:05 SAST (TBC)
Sat, 12 Sept 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand (4th Test) Venue TBC Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 17:05 SAST (TBC)
6–8 Nov 2026 Italy vs South Africa Venue TBC Nations Championship 15:00 CET (TBC)
13–15 Nov 2026 France vs South Africa Venue TBC Nations Championship 21:00 CET (TBC)
Sat, 21 Nov 2026 Ireland vs South Africa Venue TBC Nations Championship 18:30 CET (TBC)

Popular Match Series

Incoming Series (Home Test Series)

When: June/July
Teams: Varies – recent opponents include Wales, Georgia, Italy, British & Irish Lions, etc.
Location: Usually, a three-test series is played in South Africa
It’s like the Springboks inviting someone over for a braai, then tackling them into the bushveld.

Carling Curry Cup Premier Division

When: Annually, typically July to September.

RugbyPass has the broadcast rights across the EEA, including Germany. You can subscribe and stream Currie Cup matches directly, no VPN needed.

The Castle Lager Rugby Championships

  • When: Annually (July–October)
  • Teams: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina
  • Formerly: The Tri-Nations (before Argentina joined in 2012)

School Rugby

When: Annually (Main season runs March–August, peaking around Easter and Winter)

Autumn Series

When: November
Opponents: England, Ireland, France, Wales, Scotland, Italy, and others
Where: Played across Europe
Purpose: To test their steel against the Six Nations sides in the northern winter chill.
 Games might be on Wow TV and More Than Sports

Six Nations

When: Annually (February–March)
Teams: 🇮🇹 Italy, 🏴 Scotland, 🏴 England, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🏴‍☠️ Wales, 🇫🇷 France. 
The oldest international rugby tournament in the world, tracing back to 1883 when it was just four nations.

Rugby Europe Championships

When: Annually (typically February–March)
Teams: Georgia, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland (8 teams as of recent formats)
 Information about the German Rugby team (some players with SA roots in the team) can be found on their website or their Facebook page

The Rugby World Cup

When: Every 4 years (next: 2027 in Australia)
South Africa: Champions in 1995, 2007, 2019, and 2023—yes, back-to-back like legends.
The most Prestigious Tournament in world rugby.

More about watching sports in Germany

Watching sports

How to watch South African Sport in Germany There’s nothing quite like the roar of a Springbok try or the crack of leather on willow, even from thousands of kilometres away. Rugby and cricket are more than just games for us; they’re pieces of home, shared with every cheer and every sigh. This page brings you all the legal ways to stream and watch South African sports in Germany — no dodgy links, no hassle,

Streaming South African content

Streaming South African content A little screen-time comfort, done the right way. When homesickness hits, familiar voices, accents, and stories can feel like a warm blanket. The good news? You can legally watch some South African content in Germany — if you know where to look and where not to. Legal Streaming Options in Germany Navigating daily life in Germany can feel a bit different than in South Africa, especially when it comes to using

Watching your favourite sports on television can be a bit of a challenge in Germany. While using a VPN is not illegal in itself, using it to access streaming services that are not licensed for viewing in your region—such as DStv—may violate the platform’s terms of service and could potentially breach copyright laws. To stay on the safe side, we strongly recommend using only legal and licensed streaming platforms to avoid possible fines or account suspension.

Germany has strict copyright laws, and violations can lead to significant fines.

For more information on what’s allowed and what’s not, you can visit the
European Consumer Centre Germany and download their helpful English guide:
Safer Streaming PDF.

The availability of rugby matches in Germany varies depending on broadcasting rights and platform agreements. 
We’ve gathered a list of platforms that appear to offer legal rugby streaming options.
⚠️ Important: This information is provided for your convenience only. We do not verify or guarantee the legality of these services in Germany or elsewhere. 
👉 You are fully responsible for checking the legality, licensing, and regional restrictions for each platform.
👉 Always review each provider’s own terms, conditions, and disclaimers before streaming.
🚫 No liability is accepted for your use of any third-party services listed here.

  • Ran.de has some live streams, but mostly 7’S
  • NZR+ – Sanzaarrugby.tv moved to NZR+. You can buy season or monthly passes. Make sure you know what games they will be broadcasting. According to NZR+/SANZAAR’s announcements, Germany is one of the eligible territories where their July international and Rugby Championship matches can be streamed using NZR+ or SANZAAR Pass
  • URC TV –  United Rugby Championships. According to their website, there are no limitations for Germany
  • Youtube channels
  • Rugby Deutschland
  • Sport.de
  • WOW TV (formerly Sky Ticket) – Offers rugby content when rights are available
  • DAZN – Primarily football and boxing, but occasionally includes rugby events
  • Amazon Prime Video – Sometimes features Autumn Nations and Rugby World Cup coverage via sub-channels
  • RugbyPass.tv – A legitimate international platform offering both free and premium rugby content
  • More Than Sports TV – This German-language article explains how to legally access the More Than Sports channel
  • ProSieben Maxx / ran Rugby – Broadcasts select high-profile rugby matches, including international fixtures

Alternatives
  1. ☘️ Check with your local Irish pub – Many are happy to show the games if you ask in advance (rugby fans stick together, after all!).
  2. 🤝 Join our WhatsApp groups – Connect with other South Africans near you to organise or join local Bokke-watching get-togethers. Nothing beats watching the game with fellow fans who get it.
Experience Rugby in Germany

Meet the local Clubs

Frankfurt
SC Frankfurt 1880 Rugby
Jesteburg (Hamburg)
Jesteburg Wombats
Rugby FC Augsburg
Augsburg Rugby Girls - RFCA
RSV Köln
Berliner SV 1892 Rugby

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Grilling in public

When you do not have braai facilities at home or want to have more space while meeting your friends for a braai, you can use the grills/fireplaces at a public Grillplatz/grill area.These are usually in bigger parks or around lakes. Grilling in the forest is generally prohibited with some exceptions. Personally, I would refrain from grilling in the forest even if there is a Grillplatz. The trees and other plants can be very dry in

Weather in Germany

Weather in Germany Germany has four distinct seasons — and each one comes with its own rhythm,rules, and vocabulary. From steady rain and freezing fog to summer stormsand winter frost, the weather plays a quiet but constant role in everyday lifelife. Understanding the weather also means understanding the language the Germans use to describe it. German Climate Germany’s climate is temperate and marine, with cold, cloudy winters and warm summers and in the south occasional

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