A unique trophy was unveiled on Wednesday for the four-Test series between the Springboks and All Blacks, featuring two separate halves joined by magnetism to symbolise the bond between the nations.
The winners of the series, which concludes in Baltimore on 12 September 2026, will receive both halves. Should the series be drawn, each union will retain one piece. The trophy's shape is inspired by a blade of grass, with each half representing one nation. The concept was developed by Strategy Creative of New Zealand alongside both unions.
The trophy was publicly brought together for the first time by Gary Teichmann and Sean Fitzpatrick, captains of the 1996 series, at an official unveiling in Johannesburg. Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby, said the brief was to create a trophy that captured the essence of the rivalry. "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," Oberholzer said. Steve Lancaster, CEO of New Zealand Rugby, described the trophy as a fitting way to recognise what the rivalry represents.