For Connacht, this will be the first time they will host a visiting international side since they beat Fiji 27-5 in November 1995. Current Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan was in charge of Connacht at that time.

Connacht Rugby CEO Gerry Kelly said that the visit of South Africa, the 1995 World Cup winners, will be a huge boost for rugby in the province.

"It will be a great sporting occasion and a great way for us to kick-off the new season. We are putting together a very strong squad for next season and it will be their first outing, so it promises to be a great event," he said.

Details of the tickets for what will be a sell-out fixture will be announced shortly on the Connacht Rugby website, www.connachtrugby.ie.

South Africa will travel to Galway following their Tri-Nation encounters with New Zealand and Australia and will take on Scotland in Murrayfield four days after playing Connacht.

South African coach White is set to name his 30-man World Cup squad on July 21, and the first glimpse of this squad in the Northern Hemisphere will be in Galway on August 21.