Freedom Cup

The Freedom Cup () is a minor international rugby union trophy contested between South Africa and New Zealand as part of The Rugby Championship. It is a glass goblet on a wooden base.

As of 2026, it has been contested 21 times with New Zealand winning or retaining the trophy 16 times while South Africa have done so 5 times.

History

The Freedom Cup was introduced to mark the 10 year anniversary of South African democracy in 2004. Although the teams played each other multiple times a year, the original idea was for the cup to be contested only once every second year, in a single nominated match rather than over an entire Tri-Nations tournament (as the Rugby Championship was then known).

The first winners of the Freedom Cup were the Springboks, following a 40-26 victory at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, during the 2004 Tri Nations Series. As part of the democracy celebrations that the cup represented, Nelson Mandela attended the match.

In keeping with the original plan, there were no Freedom Cup matches in 2005. However, starting with the 2006 Tri Nations Series, the two nations agreed that it would become a bilateral series trophy, contested in all three (later two) New Zealand–South Africa matches. The All Blacks won the first two matches that year, but after South Africa's victory in the third game, Supersport presenter Joost van der Westhuizen incorrectly presented the trophy to Springbok captain John Smit who accepted it in front of millions of television viewers. The mistake was corrected after the South Africans had begun parading with the trophy.

In 2015 the Freedom Cup broke off its base when New Zealand captain Richie McCaw unboxed it ahead of that year's one-off test. It was repaired in New Zealand and travelled to South Africa, where it was retained by the visitors.

Bilateral series within Tri-Nations and Rugby Championships

The Freedom Cup was awarded annually from 2006-2025 (except 2020, due to COVID), going to whichever team won more of that year's Tri-Nations or Rugby Championship matches between the two teams. In drawn series the holder retains the cup.

Tri-Nations tournaments featured three tests between South Africa and New Zealand, except in World Cup years (2007, 2011) when only two were played. From 2012 the Tri-Nations expanded to the four-team Rugby Championship and the new draw reduced the number of Freedom Cup matches by one (two matches most years; one in World Cup years).

Due to COVID pandemic travel restrictions there were no Freedom Cup matches in 2020, and in 2021 Australia hosted both matches, meaning that the Freedom Cup was contested on neutral ground for the first time. Later, one match was played in Baltimore, United States in 2026.

"Greatest Rivalry" tours

From 2026 the two countries agreed to four-yearly tours known as "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry". These test series will replace the Rugby Championship in those years and feature a different trophy. As a result, the Freedom Cup will also be at stake. The new trophy's halves each represent one of the two nations. It is held together by magnets and can be separated if the four-test series is drawn.

Matches . HostPDNew Zealand pointsSouth Africa points New Zealand 18 13 4 1 528 310 South Africa 23 12 11 0 638 573Neutral Venue31207691 Overall 44 26 17 1 1,242 974 Source: – select All Blacks and Boks, Freedom Cup.

Results Year Date Venue Home Score Away TrophyWinner202612 SeptemberM&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (United States)43–285 SeptemberFNB Stadium, Johannesburg29–2429 AugustCape Town Stadium, Cape Town33–2622 AugustEllis Park, Johannesburg16–33202513 SeptemberSky Stadium, Wellington 10–43 6 SeptemberEden Park, Auckland24–1720247 SeptemberCape Town Stadium, Cape Town18–1231 AugustEllis Park, Johannesburg31–27202315 July Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland35–20202213 August Ellis Park, Johannesburg23–356 August Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit26–1020212 OctoberRobina Stadium, Gold Coast (Australia)31–2925 SeptemberNorth Queensland Stadium, Townsville (Australia)19–17201927 JulyWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington16–1620186 OctoberLoftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria30–3215 SeptemberWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington34–3620177 OctoberNewlands Stadium, Cape Town24–2516 SeptemberNorth Harbour Stadium, Albany57–020168 OctoberKings Park Stadium, Durban15–5717 SeptemberRugby League Park, Christchurch41–13201525 JulyEllis Park, Johannesburg20–2720144 OctoberEllis Park, Johannesburg27–2513 SeptemberWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington14–1020135 OctoberEllis Park, Johannesburg27–3814 SeptemberEden Park, Auckland29–1520126 OctoberFNB Stadium, Johannesburg16–3215 SeptemberForsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin21–11201120 AugustNelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth18–530 JulyWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington40–7201021 AugustFNB Stadium, Johannesburg22–2917 JulyWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington31–1710 JulyEden Park, Auckland32–122009 12 SeptemberWaikato Stadium, Hamilton29–321 AugustKings Park Stadium, Durban31–1925 JulyFree State Stadium, Bloemfontein28–19200816 AugustNewlands, Cape Town0–1912 JulyCarisbrook, Dunedin28–305 JulyWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington19–8200714 JulyLancaster Park, Christchurch33–623 JuneKings Park Stadium, Durban21–2620062 SeptemberRoyal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg21–2026 AugustLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria26–4522 JulyWellington Regional Stadium, Wellington35–17200414 AugustEllis Park, Johannesburg40–26

Freedom Cup

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