Rugby’s revived tour between the Springboks and All Blacks unveiled a unique split trophy in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Designed to be pulled together by hidden magnets, the 65cm silverware can be divided evenly if the four-Test series ends in a draw on September 12, 2026.
Unveiling a Magnetized Masterpiece in Johannesburg
The tour like no other has a trophy like no other. At an official unveiling in Johannesburg, the captains of the 1996 series—Gary Teichmann and Sean Fitzpatrick—publicly brought together an unusual piece of silverware that captures the complex relationship between two of the sport’s fiercest competitors.
The creation was developed specifically for the return of rugby tours between South Africa and New Zealand. Strategy Creative of New Zealand built the award in collaboration with both national governing bodies over the course of a year. Shaped like a blade of grass to represent the shared experience of every player who has stepped onto the pitch, the trophy consists of two individual aluminum blades.
Each blade stands independently, reflecting the separate identity, culture, and history of its respective country. When brought together, hidden magnets draw the pieces into a single unit. The base mirrors this philosophy of two halves forming a greater whole, constructed from black pakohe stone from Aotearoa New Zealand and green verdite from South Africa.
Solving the Problem of a Drawn Series
The unusual physical design addresses a very practical sporting dilemma: how to crown a winner after an exhausting multi-Test tour without relying on arbitrary tiebreakers. This encounter marks the eighth time in 12 tours that the series features four Tests.
“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.”
Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, via Nzherald
Under the confirmed tour rules, the winners of the four-Test series will claim both halves of the trophy following the final Test in Baltimore, USA, on September 12, 2026. However, if the teams finish level with two wins apiece after 320 minutes of rugby, each country will retain one half of the trophy.
That outcome would echo history. The first two tours between the two nations, held in 1921 and 1928, were both shared.
Artistic Symbolism Across Two Cultures
Beyond its magnetic engineering, the trophy incorporates indigenous artwork from both countries on its precision-machined aluminum blades. Each 7kg blade stands atop a 9.5kg base, serving as a canvas for cultural storytelling.
The South African blade features artwork by Bonolo Chepape. Her layered patterns explore the belief that sporting greatness is never achieved alone, celebrating the broader community and shared experiences that shape athletic success in South Africa. Meanwhile, the New Zealand blade carries work by Kereama Taepa.
Taepa drew inspiration from the Māori creation story of Tāne and Whiro—two brothers who pursue the same goal by different paths. The design captures the tension, respect, and deep connection that define the rivalry.
Weighing a Century of Mutual Respect
Leadership from both rugby unions emphasized that the physical object mirrors an unyielding, century-old mutual respect. The concept acknowledges that while both nations fiercely desire to outplay each other, they remain fundamentally linked by history.
“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.”
Steve Lancaster, CEO of New Zealand Rugby, via Nzherald
Lancaster noted that every Test adds to a long legacy where the fierce desire to win is matched only by institutional admiration.
From the Display Case to Ellis Park
Fans scrambling for seats received a late boost when limited tickets for the opener were released after a commercial partner returned part of its allocation.
As the teams prepare to take the pitch, the newly minted silverware waits on the sidelines—a physical reminder that after more than a century of combat, these two rugby giants remain two halves of the same great contest.
