The deal will see Rhino’s elite-level match balls used for all home Tests for the Springboks, as well as all SA Rugby-run competitions, including the Carling Currie Cup, the oldest provincial series in the world.

Rhino are one of the biggest names in rugby, having supported the British & Irish Lions for the past four tours with contact and training equipment, three of which also saw them provide training balls.

“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 Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.

“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.”

Rhino is SA Rugby and the Springboks' new match ball partner.

In recent years, Rhino has established itself as one of the leading match ball brands, as the official match ball of Asia Rugby and Rugby Europe, accounting for over 80 rugby playing nations. Rhino balls have also been used at the highest level in club rugby across the world, previously being official match ball for the Pro12 (now Vodacom URC), Major League Rugby in the USA, and Superliga Americana de Rugby in South America.

The Rhino Vortex Pro is Rhino’s highest-spec rugby ball and will be used by the Springboks in all six their home Tests next year, including the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. Tested by clubs and universities, including at such famed British rugby institutions as Loughborough University, Hartpury University and University of Exeter, it was launched in 2024.

Reg Clark, CEO of Rhino, said: “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’ve 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.”

Philip Moore, CEO of Rhino South Africa, said: “This is a hugely important day for Rhino and we’re incredibly proud to be joining SA Rugby on their journey across all levels of the game from both the men and women on international stage to the Carling Currie Cup and grassroots. We strongly believe bringing together these two leaders in their respective rugby fields is going to produce incredible results for the game, not only in South Africa but across the rugby world.”

Rhino’s seven-year partnership begins on Wednesday, 1 January 2025.

Rhino is the official training equipment partner for the British & Irish Lions, the Welsh Rugby Union, the French Rugby Federation, and scrum partner of England Rugby. In South Africa, Rhino is also training equipment supplier to both the Emirates Lions and the Hollywoodbets Sharks.