Mandela Challenge Plate

For the association football competition, see Nelson Mandela Challenge.
Mandela Challenge Plate
Sport Rugby union
Instituted 2000
Number of teams 2
Country Australia
South Africa
Holders South Africa (2023)
Most titles Australia (13 titles)

The Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate is a rugby union trophy contested between Australia and South Africa. It is named after South Africa's first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela.

History

Initially designed to be held every two years, the trophy was first contested as a one-off match in 2000, with Australia winning the game 44-23 at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium. The second, played in Ellis Park, Johannesburg in 2002, was also South Africa's home game in the Tri Nations, and was won 33–31 by South Africa. The 2004 event, delayed until 2005, was played over two legs, and was not part of the Tri Nations. Since South Africa were the holders, Australia needed to win both games to reclaim the trophy. Australia won the first game 30–12, but lost the return leg at Ellis Park, 33–20.

Between 2006 and 2011, with the expansion of the Tri Nations series so that each country plays each other three times, the plate was contested over three Tests, akin to the Bledisloe Cup, with the exception of 2007 and 2011, when teams only played 4 games each, to accommodate for the Rugby World Cups in those years. In 2012, the Tri Nations was expanded to include Argentina and the competition was renamed The Rugby Championship. The teams now play each other twice, and the challengers are required to beat the holders in both games to win the plate.

The trophy is a leather-clad silver plate containing a 24 carat (100%) rim, and a central gold disk showing a Wallaby and a Springbok (the icons of the two teams). It was designed by Flynn Silver, an Australian family company from Kyneton, Victoria.

Matches

Details P Australia South Africa D Australia points South Africa points
Australia 21 17 3 1 545 392
South Africa 18 3 14 1 328 534
Overall 39 20 17 2 873 926

Source:

Results

Year Date Venue Home Score Away Trophy
Winner
2023 8 July Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria South Africa 43–12 Australia
2022 3 September 2022 Allianz Stadium, Sydney Australia 8–24 South Africa
27 August 2022 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Australia 25–17 South Africa
2021 18 September Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Australia 30–17 South Africa
12 September Robina Stadium, Robina, Queensland Australia 28–26 South Africa
2019 20 July Ellis Park, Johannesburg South Africa 35–17 Australia
2018 29 September Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth South Africa 23–12 Australia
8 September Lang Park, Brisbane Australia 23–18 South Africa
2017 30 September Free State Stadium, Blomfontein South Africa 27–27 Australia
9 September Perth Oval, Perth Australia 23–23 South Africa
2016 1 October Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria South Africa 18–10 Australia
10 September Lang Park, Brisbane Australia 23–17 South Africa
2015 18 July Lang Park, Brisbane Australia 24–20 South Africa
2014 27 September Newlands, Cape Town South Africa 28–10 Australia
6 September Subiaco Oval, Perth Australia 24–23 South Africa
2013 28 September Newlands, Cape Town South Africa 28–8 Australia
7 September Lang Park, Brisbane Australia 12–38 South Africa
2012 29 September Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria South Africa 31–8 Australia
8 September Subiaco Oval, Perth Australia 26–19 South Africa
2011 13 August Kings Park Stadium, Durban South Africa 9–14 Australia
23 July Stadium Australia, Sydney Australia 39–20 South Africa
2010 4 September Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein South Africa 39–41 Australia
28 August Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria South Africa 44–31 Australia
24 July Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Australia 30–13 South Africa
2009 5 September Lang Park, Brisbane Australia 21–6 South Africa
29 August Subiaco Oval, Perth Australia 25–32 South Africa
8 August Newlands, Cape Town South Africa 29–17 Australia
2008 30 August Ellis Park, Johannesburg South Africa 53–8 Australia
23 August Kings Park Stadium, Durban South Africa 15–27 Australia
19 July Subiaco Oval, Perth Australia 16–9 South Africa
2007 7 July Stadium Australia, Sydney Australia 25–17 South Africa
16 June Newlands, Cape Town South Africa 22–19 Australia
2006 9 September Ellis Park, Johannesburg South Africa 24–16 Australia
5 August Stadium Australia, Sydney Australia 20–18 South Africa
15 July Lang Park, Brisbane Australia 49–0 South Africa
2005 23 July Ellis Park, Johannesburg South Africa 33–20 Australia
9 July Stadium Australia, Sydney Australia 30–12 South Africa
2002 17 August Ellis Park, Johannesburg South Africa 33–31 Australia
2000 8 July Docklands Stadium, Melbourne Australia 44–23 South Africa

See also