Let it be known: Thursday, 26 March, marks exactly 100 days before the inaugural Nations Championship kicks off. With one successful alignment camp already behind them, 2026 will undoubtedly be one for the books for the Boks. The world champions square up against England, Scotland and Wales in the new tournament in July, not before a pre-season opener against the Barbarians in Gqeberha in June. Let esteemed News24 Sport rugby writer, Herman Mostert, guide you through the Boks' year ahead in this edition of The Lead. In our show’s trending topic, the ANC’s Eastern Cape elective conference is interdicted by the courts. Finally, we recall the early birth of the Kruger National Park, with On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24’s editors.