The Freedom Cup (Afrikaans: Vryheidsbeker)[1] is a minor international rugby union trophy contested between South Africa and New Zealand, during The Rugby Championship and previously during The Rugby Championship's predecessor, the Tri Nations. It was first contested in 2004 (the 10 year anniversary of South African democracy), in a one-off test. The game, played at Ellis Park, Johannesburg was won 40–26 by South Africa. However, in the 2006 Tri Nations Series, it was contested in all three New Zealand–South Africa matches.
In 2006, New Zealand won the first two matches, winning the Freedom Cup for the first time, but during the post-match presentation following the third game which was won by South Africa, 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 later corrected, off-air.
Details
|
P
|
New Zealand
|
South Africa
|
D
|
New Zealand points
|
South Africa points
|
New Zealand
|
16
|
12
|
3
|
1
|
494
|
250
|
South Africa
|
18
|
11
|
7
|
0
|
516
|
446
|
Neutral Venue [note 1]
|
2
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
48
|
48
|
Overall
|
36
|
24
|
11
|
1
|
1058
|
744
|
Source:[2]
Year
|
Date
|
Venue
|
Home
|
Score
|
Away
|
Trophy Winner
|
2024
|
31 August
|
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
31-27
|
New Zealand
|
|-
|
2023
|
15 July
|
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
|
New Zealand
|
35-20
|
South Africa
|
|
2022
|
13 August
|
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
23-35
|
New Zealand
|
|
6 August
|
Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
|
South Africa
|
26-10
|
New Zealand
|
2021
|
2 October
|
Robina Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland
|
New Zealand
|
29–31
|
South Africa
|
|
25 September
|
North Queensland Stadium, Townsville
|
New Zealand
|
19–17
|
South Africa
|
2019
|
27 July
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
16–16
|
South Africa
|
|
2018
|
6 October
|
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria
|
South Africa
|
30–32
|
New Zealand
|
|
15 September
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
34–36
|
South Africa
|
2017
|
7 October
|
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
|
South Africa
|
24–25
|
New Zealand
|
|
16 September
|
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
|
New Zealand
|
57–0
|
South Africa
|
2016
|
8 October
|
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
|
South Africa
|
15–57
|
New Zealand
|
|
17 September
|
Rugby League Park, Christchurch
|
New Zealand
|
41–13
|
South Africa
|
2015
|
25 July
|
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
20–27
|
New Zealand
|
|
2014
|
4 October
|
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
27–25
|
New Zealand
|
|
13 September
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
14–10
|
South Africa
|
2013
|
5 October
|
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
27–38
|
New Zealand
|
|
14 September
|
Eden Park, Auckland
|
New Zealand
|
29–15
|
South Africa
|
2012
|
6 October
|
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
16–32
|
New Zealand
|
|
15 September
|
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
|
New Zealand
|
21–11
|
South Africa
|
2011
|
20 August
|
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
|
South Africa
|
18–5
|
New Zealand
|
|
30 July
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
40–7
|
South Africa
|
2010
|
21 August
|
FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
22–29
|
New Zealand
|
|
17 July
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
31–17
|
South Africa
|
10 July
|
Eden Park, Auckland
|
New Zealand
|
32–12
|
South Africa
|
2009
|
12 September
|
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
|
New Zealand
|
29–32
|
South Africa
|
|
1 August
|
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
|
South Africa
|
31–19
|
New Zealand
|
25 July
|
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
|
South Africa
|
28–19
|
New Zealand
|
2008
|
16 August
|
Newlands, Cape Town
|
South Africa
|
0–19
|
New Zealand
|
|
12 July
|
Carisbrook, Dunedin
|
New Zealand
|
28–30
|
South Africa
|
5 July
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
19–8
|
South Africa
|
2007
|
14 July
|
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
|
New Zealand
|
33–6
|
South Africa
|
|
23 June
|
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
|
South Africa
|
21–26
|
New Zealand
|
2006
|
2 September
|
Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg
|
South Africa
|
21–20
|
New Zealand
|
|
26 August
|
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
|
South Africa
|
26–45
|
New Zealand
|
22 July
|
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
|
New Zealand
|
35–17
|
South Africa
|
2004
|
14 August
|
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
|
South Africa
|
40–26
|
New Zealand
|
|
- ^ Due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the two tests played during the 2021 Rugby Championship were both staged in Queensland Australia