South Africa to play New Zealand in Soweto

South Africa will play their last home Test match of 2012 against New Zealand in the historic Johannesburg township of Soweto on October 6, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) said Thursday. Rugby officials are keen to bring the sport, which has traditionally been the domain of South Africa's white population, into the country's black townships. Last year, the Springboks hosted the All Blacks in Soweto for a Tri-Nations Test at Soccer City stadium, the showcase venue for the opening and final matches of the 2010 football World Cup. Next year's encounter will be played in the same venue -- since renamed FNB Stadium -- and will be the final match of the Castle Rugby Championship, SARU said in a statement. The All Blacks won the 2010 Soweto match 29-22, after a decision to move the game away from traditional rugby venues following the huge success of the Super 14 final in nearby Orlando Stadium three months earlier. That match saw many white rugby fans go to Soweto for the first time as the Northern Bulls' home venue, Loftus Versfeld, underwent final preparations to host football World Cup matches the following month. SARU said the Springboks will also host England for a three-Test series in June next year and take on Argentina and Australia at home in the former Tri-Nations, recently expanded to include the South American side.