News24 | Trophy unveiled for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between Springboks and All Blacks

Former captains Gary Teichmann (Springboks) and Sean Fitzpatrick (All Blacks) with the RGR trophy.

Supplied/SA Rugby

The trophy for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between the Springboks and All Blacks was unveiled in Johannesburg on Wednesday.

South Africa and New Zealand will battle each other in four Tests, starting at Ellis Park on Saturday. The second Test is at Cape Town Stadium on 29 August, followed by a Test at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (5 September) and a final one in Baltimore in the United States (12 September).

“The concept was developed exclusively for the revival of rugby tours between the nations, to capture a simple truth: that as distinct and proud as are the two rugby cultures, each is inexorably drawn to the other as two halves of the greatest rivalry,” SA Rugby said in a statement.

READ | Altitude, history and legacy: Ellis Park sets the tone for a Greatest Rivalry showdown

The trophy features two halves and the series winners will receive both halves. In case of a drawn series, each nation will retain one half of the trophy.

The creation was publicly brought together for the first time by the captains of the 1996 series - Gary Teichmann (Springboks) and Sean Fitzpatrick (All Blacks) - at an official unveiling. The All Blacks won the 1996 series 2-1 to record their first-ever series triumph on these shores. The Springboks had won a series 2-1 in New Zealand in 1937.

“The brief to the agencies was to create a trophy that was really like no other, and one to capture the essence of the rivalry,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.

“The thinking included the idea that the trophy could be split in two to represent the two halves of the rivalry or that each nation could keep one half if the series was shared.

“This is the eighth time in 12 tours that the series has included four Tests, and if each team has won two Tests at the end of 320 minutes of intense rugby, it seemed inappropriate to decide a winner on an arbitrary metric.”

RGR trophy.

Supplied/SA Rugby

RGR trophy.

Supplied/SA Rugby

Two halves of the RGR trophy.

Supplied/SA Rugby

RGR trophy with NZ logo.

Supplied/SA Rugby

(From left to right) Thomas Lawrence (Brand Director: Castle Double Malt), Gary Teichmann (former Springbok captain), Vaughan Croeser (Vice President of Marketing at South African Breweries), Mark Alexander (SA Rugby president), Erin Rush (NZ Rugby president), and Sean Fitzpatrick (former All Blacks captain) with the RGR trophy.

Supplied/SA Rugby

RGR trophy with SA logo.

Supplied/SA Rugby

Steve Lancaster, CEO of New Zealand Rugby, added: “The trophy is a really fitting way to recognise what this rivalry is about. It’s something different and unique, and importantly, it tells the story of two teams and two countries that have been competing against each other for more than 100 years.

“Every Test adds to that history. There’s a real respect between the two sides, but also that desire to get one over each other and find a way to win.

“And if the series is drawn, the fact the trophy can be shared is something special to this tour and this concept. It’s a fitting reflection of just how how closely matched these teams have been over the years, and the intensity of a rivalry that has endured for more than a century.”

The trophy will be on display at Ellis Park on Saturday.

More about the trophy:

- The trophy’s shape is inspired by a blade of grass, an element common to every player’s experience, and was developed by Strategy Creative of New Zealand alongside both unions. It is formed from two individual blades, one representing South Africa and one representing New Zealand.

- Each blade stands independently, reflecting the unique identity, culture, and history of its nation. Only when the two pieces come together does the complete trophy emerge.

- Hidden magnets draw the blades together. Like the rivalry itself, the force between them continues to bring the two nations back together, generation after generation. Each blade has been precision-machined from solid aluminium and features artwork from South African and New Zealand artists.

- The South African blade features artwork by Bonolo Chepape, whose work explores the idea that greatness is never achieved alone. Through layered patterns inspired by community, culture and shared experience, her artwork celebrates the many people who shape sporting excellence in South Africa.

- The New Zealand blade carries artwork by Kereama Taepa, inspired by the Māori creation story of Tāne and Whiro - two brothers whose rivalry sees them pursue the same goal by different paths. His work reflects the tension, respect and connection that sit at the heart of great rivalries.

- The trophy base continues the theme of two halves making a greater whole, as it is made of two distinct stones; black Pakohe stone from Aotearoa New Zealand, and green Verdite from South Africa.