Springboks unveil new jersey to be worn against the Lions and it’s sending the internet into overdrive
The Springboks have released their kit to be worn against the British and Irish Lions next summer in an announcement that has sent the internet into overdrive.
This kit is special in that it will only be worn by the World Champions on three occasions against the famous touring side.
Fans eagerly awaited today’s release after teasers were posted across South Africa’s social media sites over the week.
Here is the teaser that the Springboks put up across their social media pages earlier this week which led to huge excitement across South African rugby circles as fans eagerly awaited the kit release.
Look at the teaser posted on social media, below.
👀 Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow, when the Springbok jersey for the 2021 Castle Lager @LionsSeries is revealed. In 2009, this is what the Boks’ traditional green and gold looked like when we hosted @lionsofficial in SA.@CastleLagerSA pic.twitter.com/wBQrLhVBWQ
— Springboks (@Springboks) December 10, 2020
The kit worn by the Springboks during their victorious Lions tour of 2009 has become one of the most iconic rugby kits in the team’s history. Partly because of the good aesthetics of the kit – but also due to the fact that that Lions tour was deemed by many to be the most intense and dramatic ever.
Here was a statement that was released to go with the kit release for the new South African rugby kit today.
The world champions will don a unique commemorative jersey when they face the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in three Tests on home turf next year in the much-anticipated Castle Lager Lions Series.
“Lions tours come around only every 12 years, so we thought it appropriate to create a jersey that is indisputably unique,” said Jurie Roux, SA Rugby CEO.
Our classic rewatch is starting over on @SkySportsRugby (Arena channel) at 8:30pm
Lions vs. South Africa, Second Test, 2009 🦁🇿🇦
And we’ll be discussing it with Victor Matfield on Monday’s show pic.twitter.com/zO7E1djJJ9
— House of Rugby (@HouseOfRugby) April 18, 2020
“It will be worn by the team on only three occasions and we wanted to make it memorable and special for the players and hopefully this unique rendering of Springbok green – in conjunction with the badge – will do exactly that.”
The 2021 tour will be 14th time the British & Irish Lions have visited South Africa and ASICS wanted to celebrate this rich history by putting a very classic spin on the most modern jersey.
“A British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa is a hugely significant event for both players and supporters, as it takes place only every 12 years or so,” ASICS South Africa said.
“That kind of rarity bring with it a special responsibility when creating a jersey and we wanted the players and the fans to get goosebumps every time they pull that jersey over their heads.”
In that vein, the new jersey blends the traditions of garment manufacture, with the latest in performance garment design and materials.
Undoubtedly the new jersey’s most distinguishing feature, is its unique colourway. According to ASICS, colour-matching and colour-dying was historically not the precise art it is today. Very often when the team took the field from one game to the next, the jerseys didn’t look the same and potentially, often showed a different shade of green.
“MTN is proud to take this relationship a step further as principal-partners during the British & Irish Lions Tour 2021,” said Mazibuko, who also confirmed that partnering with the Springboks for this tour is a natural progression for MTN as this is widely regarded as the second biggest rugby tournament in the world considering it can only be experienced in South Africa every 12 years.
“It is our core belief that everyone deserves access to a modern connected life and MTN is the enabler that connects South Africans to one another and is a proud sponsor of their passion.”
The Castle Lager Lions Series begins on Saturday 3 July 2021 when the Lions face the DHL Stormers in Cape Town. Three weeks later the new jersey will be worn for the first time by the Springboks at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg – a venue which previously hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final.
Here is the kit that South Africa have released for the 2021 Lions tour next summer.
🚨 New Springbok jersey alert!
✅ Vintage colourway with a special commemorative 3D logo
🗣️ “It will be worn by the team on only three occasions”
👉 Check it out here: https://t.co/D2sUMtz36b#StrongerTogether @ASICS_ZA @MTNza @CastleLagerSA @LionsSeries pic.twitter.com/bf6WcwJqSi— Springboks (@Springboks) December 11, 2020
Some of the Springboks biggest names don the new commemorative jersey for today’s release.
Bongi Mbonambi poses in the new playing jersey that features a 3D logo to be worn in the three-match test series.
Pieter Steph du Toit wears the new South Africa shirt that is available to order now
This kit release has already gone down well with Springbok fans but we know from recent history that this isn’t always the case. Look at the links below to see how other kit releases had mixed reactions from fans.
- England rugby stars accidentally leak England’s awful new Umbro kit in quickly deleted social media post
- Canterbury are getting destroyed online for their new Irish rugby kit reveal
What do you think of the new Springbok kit? Let us know.
