Trump's Shadow Over Historic Rugby Clash in Baltimore
In a surprising revelation, SA Rugby has confirmed that the foreign policy stance of former US President Donald Trump was a significant factor in the decision to stage a historic Test match between South Africa and New Zealand in Baltimore this September. The Springboks and All Blacks, two of rugby union's most formidable heavyweights, will face off at M&T Bank Stadium on 12 September as part of the concluding fixture of the "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" series.
Geopolitical Considerations Shape Venue Choice
The selection of Baltimore's 71,000-capacity venue emerged as a somewhat unexpected choice for this landmark encounter. Organisers had initially considered various European locations, including Dublin's iconic Croke Park, before a bid from Baltimore received backing from World Rugby. The global governing body is actively pursuing the expansion of top-tier international rugby within the United States, particularly as the nation prepares to host the men's and women's Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 respectively. Baltimore is among twenty-nine American cities currently vying to host matches during those tournaments.
However, the announcement arrives against a complex backdrop of international tensions, largely centred on the potential return to power and stated foreign policy objectives of Donald Trump. Reports from Europe indicate that leading football figures have engaged in informal discussions regarding a possible boycott of the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting in June. These conversations have been prompted by Trump's repeated public suggestions about annexing Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
SA Rugby Seeks Political Assurance
While no specific travel restrictions currently affect South African citizens entering the United States, the US government does maintain entry restrictions on several other African nations. This broader context prompted SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer to seek explicit guidance from South African political figures. Oberholzer emphasised the importance of ensuring the fixture would not create diplomatic "embarrassment" for either the South African or American government.
"I hope that the soccer World Cup goes through that pain first and then we follow on through that," Oberholzer explained, referencing the potential geopolitical challenges facing the FIFA tournament. "It's a challenging one and it's one we spoke about a lot. But we are supporting World Rugby's expansion into America. We're trusting World Rugby also."
He added that World Rugby had undertaken considerable due diligence: "They've thought long and hard about asking us to bring the game there and supporting us, looking into the consequences. At this moment in time we are very comfortable that there will not be an issue."
Internal Discussions and Commercial Ambitions
Oberholzer confirmed that the potential political ramifications were discussed extensively within SA Rugby and with domestic politicians. "We have discussed it internally and I also discussed it with our internal politicians. We don't want to start something that will start an embarrassment for the American government or the South African government. We are comfortable that we have taken the necessary precautions and discussed it internally at least," he stated.
Organisers are now targeting a complete sell-out for what promises to be a commercially significant event. Oberholzer suggested that lessons have been learned from the logistical and operational difficulties encountered during New Zealand's match against Ireland at Chicago's Soldier Field in November. The Baltimore Test will be the fourth and final match in the rivalry series, following three Tests hosted in South Africa—two in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town. Additionally, the All Blacks' tour will include matches against all four South African franchises that compete in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
