Nike and SA Rugby have unveiled a specially commissioned Springbok jersey for the Castle Double Malt Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour, with the design centred on a tone-on-tone graphic featuring the lyrics of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika printed in the shape of the South African flag.
The words appear in all five languages of the anthem — Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Afrikaans, and English — and will be worn exclusively across the four RGR Tests, beginning with the first match against the All Blacks at 10bet Ellis Park on 22 August, which ends a 30-year wait for a Test series between the two nations.
The jersey is built on Nike FIT ADV construction, engineered for the performance demands of the modern game.
"Nike have outdone themselves in developing a design that speaks directly and honestly to the motivation of the team and management — they play for the people of South Africa and wear their hearts on their sleeve; now they will wear the words of the anthem on their chests," said SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer.
The jersey goes on sale on Thursday, 6 August, at three price points through Nike stores, Nike.com, and Springbok retail stores at Sandton, Menlyn Park, and Canal Walk.