CAPE TOWN, Dec 5 : South Africa will begin an expansive test match programme next year with a clash in July against England at high altitude in Johannesburg as they kick off the new Nations Championship.

SA Rugby announced on Friday the venues for the opening three home games of the new-look competition, where 12 countries play a series of home and away games in July and then November.

South Africa’s first fixture will be at Ellis Park, where on England’s last visit in June 2018, the Boks came from a 21-point deficit to snatch a narrow 42-39 win. The thin air on the Highveld, where the elevation is some 1,750m, is usually taxing for visiting teams.

Next year’s clash will be on July 4, followed a week later by a second Nations Championship game against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld in Pret

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