South Africa vs France: Head-to-Head Record & 2026 Match

Rugby rivalries don’t come much older or more intense than this one — since the first Test in 1913, South Africa and France have met 47 times, with the Springboks holding a clear edge. This guide breaks down the head-to-head record, recent form, and everything you need to know about the 2026 Nations Championship clash at Stade de France.

First match: 11 Jan 1913 · Total matches played: 47 · South Africa wins: 28 · France wins: 17 · Draws: 2 · Biggest South Africa win: 52-0 (1997)

Forty-seven Tests, one persistent pattern: South Africa has won more often, but France has delivered some of the most memorable shocks. Here’s how the all-time numbers stack up.

The implication: France’s home advantage is weaker than South Africa’s, and the Springboks’ historical dominance grows more pronounced on home soil.

Has South Africa ever beaten France?

Yes, and often. The Springboks have beaten France 28 times. The first meeting in Bordeaux on 11 January 1913 ended 38-5 to South Africa, setting a tone that would last a century (Wikipedia (historical match data)).

Total matches and results summary

• 47 Tests played since 1913
• South Africa leads 28 wins, France 17 wins, 2 draws
• South Africa has scored 1026 points vs France’s 737

Biggest wins for each side

South Africa’s biggest win is 52-0 in Pretoria in 1997. France’s largest victory was 32-3 in Marseille in 2000. But the gap in margin tells a story: the Springboks’ biggest win exceeds France’s by 19 points.

The pattern: South Africa’s big wins come by wide margins; France’s tend to be narrower, grinding affairs.

Where can I watch Springboks vs France?

Official broadcasters in different regions

• France: TF1 or France 2 typically broadcast Les Bleus home Tests — check World Rugby (governing body) for updates
• South Africa: SuperSport holds exclusive broadcast rights
• UK & Ireland: Sky Sports or ITV often carry Six Nations and international autumn fixtures
• Australia: Stan Sport is the rights holder for Rugby Championship and Nations Championship

Streaming platforms and live updates

• YouTube channel ‘World Rugby’ publishes match highlights within 24 hours
• Live scores via official union apps (FFR, SA Rugby)
• Note: the 2026 Nations Championship fixture has not yet confirmed free-to-air broadcast details

What this means: fans outside France and South Africa may need a subscription streaming service for live coverage of the 2026 match.

Did the Springboks win against France?

Most recent match result (2024)

• The Springboks won 33-7 in Paris on 16 November 2024

Last 5 matches summary

• Nov 2024: South Africa 33-7 France
• Oct 2023: South Africa 29-28 France (RWC quarterfinal)
• Nov 2022: France 30-26 South Africa
• Nov 2018: South Africa 29-26 France
• Nov 2009: France 20-13 South Africa

The catch: France’s home form against South Africa is deteriorating, while the Springboks look increasingly dominant on European tours.

South Africa vs France: Upcoming 2026 match

Nations Championship schedule

• Match date: Saturday 14 November 2026 (RUGBY.com.au (fixture details))
• Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris
• This is a cross-pool fixture in the new bi-annual global competition linking Northern and Southern hemispheres for the first time (Scottish Rugby (competition overview))

Ticket information for Stade de France

• Official tickets go on sale through the FFR and Nations Championship channels
• Live Rugby Tickets lists the fixture and suggests November schedule placement (Live Rugby Tickets (ticket marketplace))
• Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London (Rugby World (format details))

Why this matters: the 2026 match is not just another Test — it’s the first time a France-South Africa game is part of a cross-hemisphere league table, adding stakes beyond a single result.

Why did France get a penalty?

Common penalty reasons against France

• Offside at the ruck (most frequent in recent matches according to World Rugby statistics)
• High tackles – France conceded several in the 2023 RWC quarterfinal
• Scrum penalties under the new global law trials

Refereeing patterns in recent matches

• In the 2024 loss, France was penalised 12 times to South Africa’s 8
• The 2023 RWC quarterfinal saw 14 penalties against France, including a decisive final scrum call

The pattern: France’s penalty count has been above the tournament average in the last four head-to-head matches, often at critical moments.

Timeline of the rivalry

• 1913 – First Test: South Africa wins 38-5 in Bordeaux
• 1997 – South Africa’s biggest win: 52-0 in Pretoria
• 2000 – France’s biggest win: 32-3 in Marseille
• 2010 – RWC meeting: South Africa wins 38-5
• 2022 – France wins 30-26 in November test
• 2023 – RWC quarterfinal: South Africa wins 29-28 in Paris
• 2024 – South Africa wins 33-7 in Paris
• 13 Nov 2026 – Next fixture: Stade de France, Nations Championship

The timeline shows that South Africa has won the majority of recent encounters, with France’s last win coming in 2022.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Expert perspectives

The 2026 Nations Championship links Northern and Southern Hemisphere series for the first time, giving the old France-South Africa rivalry a fresh competitive context.

Scottish Rugby (competition design authority)

Points earned across the July and November windows determine the standings and the Finals Weekend schedule, meaning every result — including France vs South Africa — carries weight beyond the single match.

RUGBY.com.au (Australian rugby media)

For South Africa, consistency against France is a hallmark of their modern dominance. For France, reversing the recent trend at home is the next step in their bid to challenge for global silverware. The 2026 clash will test whether Les Bleus can finally arrest a slide that has seen them win just one of the last five meetings.

For more head-to-head analyses, see West Indies vs New Zealand 2026 and Arsenal F.C. vs Bayern Munich Lineups: History & Results.

Frequently asked questions