All Blacks tour offers hope as South Africans count every rand

By Everson Luhanga

• The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team will play three test matches in South Africa in 2026 plus provincial games.

• Professor Esmarie Myburgh from North West University says the tour could help hotels, restaurants, taxis and informal traders earn money.

South African families are struggling to survive as costs keep rising. Food prices are up. Transport costs more. Even a weekend away feels out of reach for most families.

The 2026 All Blacks rugby tour is coming to South Africa. The New Zealand team will play three test matches here, with one additional match played abroad. They will also play provincial games against the Stormers, Sharks, Bulls and Lions.

While fans dream of packed stadiums, many communities hope the tour will bring money to local streets. Hotels, restaurants, taxis and informal traders could all earn money if sport tourism works the way it should.

Prof Esmarie Myburgh works at the Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society unit at North West University. She says sport tourism can help spread money beyond the usual tourist hotspots.

“Sport tourism can address several challenges in South Africa’s leisure tourism sector, particularly by reducing seasonality and spreading tourism benefits more evenly,” she said.

She explained that unlike traditional tourism, sport events can happen all year round and in smaller towns. This creates local economic activity in places that need it most.

A South African Tourism report shows the country hosted hundreds of sporting events. These events attracted millions of attendees. They generated more than R8.11 billion in spending.

“From an economic perspective, sport tourism generates spending across accommodation, transport, food, retail and attractions,” Myburgh said.

She said even smaller events can support jobs and small businesses. For many families, this income is about survival, not celebration.

But there are challenges. Poor infrastructure, uneven government support and neglected stadiums limit who actually benefits from these events.

“Existing infrastructure, including World Cup stadiums, should be better utilised,” Myburgh said.

As families count every rand, the real test of the All Blacks tour will be whether it helps ordinary people survive.

Pictured above: The Springboks taking on the All Blacks.

Image source: File