The highly anticipated match between France and South Africa will take place on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Stade de France in Paris. This game marks the opening of the Nations Championship, showcasing the reigning Six Nations champions against the current number one team in the world.
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus indicated his determination to secure victory, making only one change to the lineup that dominated Italy last week. Wilco Louw will replace Thomas du Toit in the front row. Meanwhile, France faces a challenging situation with injuries to key fly-halves. Antoine Dupont is expected to step into the number 10 jersey, with Maxime Lucu taking on scrum-half duties.
The match will kick off at 8:10 PM GMT, with fans in the UK, France, Ireland, and the US able to watch for free. Those traveling outside these regions can also access the match using a VPN, enabling them to bypass geo-restrictions and stream the game as if they were at home.
Key Information
Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
Kick-off Time: 8:10 PM GMT / 9:10 PM CET / 10:10 PM SAST / 7:10 AM AEDT (Saturday) / 9:10 AM NZDT (Saturday) / 3:10 PM ET / 12:10 PM PT
Venue: Stade de France, Paris, France
Free Streams: ITVX (UK), TF1+ (France), Virgin Media Play (Ireland), RugbyPass TV (US)
In the UK, viewers can watch the match live through the ITVX streaming service or on ITV1, beginning pre-match coverage at 7:15 PM GMT. Viewers will need to register for ITVX and possess an up-to-date TV License to stream live TV.
France’s squad includes Dupont and rising star Louis Bielle-Biarrey, while South Africa’s lineup features captain Siya Kolisi and a strong mix of seasoned players. Erasmus has opted for a consistent approach, maintaining the team structure that recently succeeded against Italy.
As both teams prepare for what promises to be an exciting encounter, fans are eager to see if France can avenge their narrow defeat to South Africa in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Fans around the world will have various options to view the match: South African viewers can tune in through SuperSport, while US viewers can access RugbyPass TV for free. Australia will show the match on Stan Sport, and New Zealand fans can watch via Sky Sport.
Match officials will be led by Andrea Piardi from Italy, supported by assistant referees Christophe Ridley of England and Gianluca Gnecchi of Italy, with Matteo Liperini serving as the TMO.
