The Nations Championship trophy has been revealed for the first time, with the tournament set to begin on 4 July. Standing 67cm tall and weighing 15kg, the trophy will be awarded to the team that finishes atop the competition spanning 12 nations across both hemispheres.
For the Springboks, the opening three rounds are all at home: England visit Ellis Park on 4 July, Scotland come to Loftus on 11 July, and Wales close out the midyear window at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on 18 July.
The tournament format pits the Six Nations sides against the SANZAAR nations — joined by Fiji and Japan — with each team playing six cross-hemisphere fixtures across July and November. Group rankings determine the Finals Weekend pairings, with the two group winners meeting in the climactic Sunday fixture to be crowned inaugural champions.
The trophy's design draws on the tournament's global concept: a gold-plated globe sits at the centre, with handles referencing lines of latitude and longitude to evoke the north-south rivalry at the competition's core.
SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris described the unveiling as signalling that "kick-off is not far away," while Six Nations CEO Tom Harrison called the competition "a catalyst of growth for a sport" and noted it has been "years in the making."