Springboks unveil new match ball for 2025 home Tests

SA Rugby has signed a seven-year agreement with Rhino, making its elite-level match balls the official choice for all Springbok and Springbok Women home Tests, as well as SA Rugby-run competitions like the Currie Cup.

The Rhino Vortex Pro, Rhino's top-tier rugby ball, will feature in all six Springbok home Tests this year, including the Rugby Championship.

Launched in 2024, the ball has been tested extensively by clubs and universities, including renowned British rugby institutions such as Loughborough University, Hartpury University, and the University of Exeter.

"Choosing a match ball partner is a major decision for every rugby union, but Rhino's product, coupled with their extensive history in elite-level rugby made them an exciting new partner for South African rugby," said SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer.

"As rugby is in the very DNA of Rhino, we're looking forward to seeing Rhino match balls in action, not only at Test level with our Springbok men and women's teams, but also in all of our local competitions.

"We're really excited about what the next seven years are going to bring through this new partnership."

Reg Clark, CEO of Rhino, added: "Rhino has been producing rugby balls since we first began in 1980, but this partnership with SA Rugby, and becoming the match ball of the four-time world champions, reflects the huge strides we've made in recent times. We'e proven ourselves at club, regional and international level across the world, and we're now hugely proud to be partnering with the world's most successful rugby nation."

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