Nike and SA Rugby on Wednesday unveiled a Springboks’ jersey “like no other” for the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour, celebrating the mindset that has powered the team under the leadership of Rassie Erasmus.
The Springboks meet the All Blacks in the first of four Tests at 10bet Ellis Park on 22 August, ending a 30-year wait for the resumption of a Test series between the two great rugby nations – and they will do so in a specially commissioned jersey that honours the team’s connection to the nation.
At the heart of the jersey design is a subtle, tone-on-tone graphic featuring the lyrics of South Africa’s national anthem, Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, printed in the shape of the South African flag.
The words in all five languages – Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Afrikaans, and English – will be carried on the team’s chests as they represent the convergence of South Africa’s diverse voices, histories, and communities.
Created with Nike’s athlete-first approach to design, the jersey combines lightweight performance construction with a fit engineered for the demands of the modern game – featuring Nike FIT ADV, engineered from superior materials and a rigorous testing protocol.
Every detail is designed to help athletes move with speed, confidence and focus, enabling The Springboks to play with the adaptability and creativity that have become hallmarks of their success.
The jersey reflects the promise of the Tour to be “like no other” and will only appear in the four RGR Tests.
“This truly is a Tour like no other and so is this jersey,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“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.”
The jersey will go on sale on Thursday (6 August) at three different price points from Nike stores and Nike.com, at Springbok retail stores in Sandton, Menlyn Park and Canal Walk, and all good sports stores.
bombay shivers
Women had been playing cricket as far back as the 1700s. Villages in Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire held their own local and inter-village tournaments. Prizes for the games included lace gloves and barrels of ale.
Pitfall
Cricket became an Olympic sport in 1896. However, no matches were held because there was an insufficient number of teams who attended. Had the sport been played that year, cricket would have earned the distinction of being the only team sport to be played at the time. The first Olympic match in the next Olympics (1900) was participated in by the men’s teams. Great Britain (represented by the Devon and Somerset Wanderers) won gold.