Ian Jones: Former All Black on the possible return of South Africa rugby tours

Semi-professional rugby tours may soon be back on the table. 

New Zealand rugby is reportedly close to signing off a three-test, eight-match itinerary away against South Africa in 2026 - the Springboks would reciprocate in 2030. 

Former All Black Ian Jones told Ryan Bridge it's wonderful news. 

He said that it’s an absolute trip of a lifetime, and wonderful news not only for the players, but for the fans if they’re able to make their way over to watch. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Reports that New Zealand Rugby is close to signing an
eight match tour of South Africa in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
They are just reports at this stage.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
It's a story by South African news outlet The Daily Maverick,
quoting the South Africa Rugby Chief executive saying officials from
both nations met before last weekend's tests. It's been thirty
years since we last toured in South Africa. Ian Jones
was on that tour and he's with us this morning.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
Good morning, yeah, good morning ride, Good morning to your listeners.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Great to have you on. Fond memories.

Speaker 3 (00:28):
Yeah, fantastic, absolute trip of a lifetime over does happen,
and it's wonderful news if they are planning that, Ryan,
wonderful news for the players, but also for the fans
of New Zealanders. You know, if you can please get
yourself over, there be a trip that you're incredible country,
the tour to play and maybe our greatest rivals. So

(00:48):
your good news.

Speaker 2 (00:50):
Why did they stop?

Speaker 3 (00:52):
Well, I guess sir Callen Ryan here is only fifty
two weeks, so he as there's a lot of rugby
to pour in all of these different places. Test matches
bring in the big crowds, I guess. But maybe if
there's a design now to go back to the old
take our players to the lights of patcha Strom, Kimberly,
Paul Elizabeth, those places outside the major cities we played tests.

(01:15):
It's wonderful, yeah, wonderful news.

Speaker 1 (01:18):
Would it affect I mean, you mentioned the calendar. Isn't
the calendar full?

Speaker 3 (01:22):
Now? You know?

Speaker 2 (01:22):
Would it affect other competitions?

Speaker 3 (01:25):
I guess I'll have to affect other competitions, Ryan, But
maybe they see there's a window there that they can
kind of lock and maybe, let's hope it's up to
eight weeks, maybe not that long. Even if it's five weeks, Ryan,
everything's possible with with with time and planning, and you're
saying they're looking at twenty twenty six. I guess it's

(01:47):
not room to lock it in. But I tell you what, Ryan,
I mean, I think I'll keep some players here to
want to play and go on that tour. Said for
fans of New Zealand little bit fans, trip of a
lifetime that you can get yourself over there. So there's
a lot of upside.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
You mentioned keeping players the All Blacks obviously making some
decisions or sticking to their guns around, you know, sharing
the players around.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
What do you think of that?

Speaker 3 (02:14):
One hundred percent agree with it. I've got to say, Ryan,
really really important for New Zealand rugby as a whole.
Both our domestic competitions keep our stars in New Zealand
that we pick internally, you're playing our competitions that lure
their black Jersey's very strong. So no, fully support our decision.
We live in a different part of the world and

(02:35):
say that everything's a different policy to us, But I
believe it works for us, and I think it's a
pretty strong commitment for those players to play in New Zealand,
to work their way into that all black jersey and
represent us like they do.

Speaker 1 (02:49):
Yeah, hey, we're coming back on Sunday in Cape Town.

Speaker 3 (02:53):
Well yeah, oh we are coming back. Mate. We were
right and mat Hut and Jahannes. We ran out of
gas at altitude. We now at sea level. We have
a big fan base down in Cape Town. Well, you know,
Cerevical play better. They went at their absolute best and
Joe Berg we had some chances that we didn't take.

(03:15):
So yeah, we another compelling another story, Ryan, in this
wonderful rivalry that we have.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
Brilliant, lovely to have you on the show.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
Ian Jones, former All Black, with us talking about the
possibility at the stage of the All Blacks resuming full
tour to South Africa in twenty twenty six. For more
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