Strategy Creative: Designing Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Trophy

Strategy Creative are not industrial designers. Which might be the reason they designed a trophy nobody knew how to make. Two sculptural blades of grass, one representing Aotearoa and one South Africa, drawn together by magnets into a single trophy. The blades feature artwork by Kereama Taepa and Bonolo Chepape, while Pakohe and Verdite from each nation form the base. UK manufacturers couldn’t achieve the finish, production moved to Australia, aluminium added weight, and magnets alone couldn’t stop two heavy blades twisting out of alignment. A concealed acrylic interlock now does the holding, while the magnets preserve the moment of attraction. Almost a year in the making, it’s a story about knowing what to protect in an idea and what you’re willing to change to protect it.