EXPLAINED: What is the Freedom Cup? All Blacks vs Springboks - Rugby Championship

New Zealand have a golden opportunity to break away from the chasing pack in the fourth round of the Rugby Championship, as the two Test match titans meet this Saturday for a clash in the capital. Adding to the intrigue of this match, the Freedom Cup will be on the line in Wellington as the All Blacks look to win back the trophy that has eluded them since 2023.

The Freedom Cup is a unique piece of silverware, which has been contested between the All Blacks and Springboks since August 14th, 2004. However, the Freedom Cup is rarely ever secured in a single match, with the trophy more often changing hands after a series has been won by either South Africa or New Zealand. With back-to-back fixtures each year in the old Tri Nations and later in the expanded Rugby Championship, the annual competition provides a opportune time for the title to change hands.

The Freedom Cup was conceived in 2004, to mark the tenth anniversary of democratically governed South Africa. It was first contested in a one-off test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, where the Springboks triumphed 40–26 over New Zealand in the rugby heartland of Johannesburg. Since 2006, the Cup entered the annual rotation of titles fought over in the the annual Tri Nations (later the Rugby Championship) along with the Bledisloe Cup (New Zealand vs Australia) the Mandela Challenge Plate (South Africa vs Australia) and the Trofeo Puma (Argentina vs Australia)

Series-Based: Typically, the Freedom Cup is decided after a series between the All Blacks and Springboks. However, if the series is drawn the title is retained by the current holder through a champion's advantage. Back in the Tri-Nations era, the All Blacks and Springboks would clash three times a year, yet the addition of Argentina to the expanded Rugby Championship has reduced this down to a two-match series.

Also, in Rugby World Cup years, the Freedom Cup would be decided in just one match due to the compressed schedule of that year's Test calendar. This saw South Africa claim the title through a one-off match in 2015, before the All Blacks would bring the trophy to New Zealand following standalone Tests in the lead up to the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups.

The inaugural match that started the history books of the Freedom Cup.

New Zealand win the Freedom Cup for the first time, after taking a 2-0 lead in the three match series.

New Zealand win the Freedom Cup to start a record run of dominance, as this match established a 2-0 lead in a three-match series. The All Blacks would proceed to keep hold of the Freedom Cup until 2024.

South Africa ended a 14-year wait to win back the Freedom Cup, in what was the second match of a shortened two-match series in the Rugby Championship.

2025: New Zealand take on South Africa this Saturday in Wellington, and the All Blacks have the chance to win back the title once again after the win at Eden Park.