Adidas Celebrates South Africa vs New Zealand Rugby Rivalry with Greatness Collides
New campaign brings rugby legends, current stars and fans together ahead of the 2026 All Blacks Tour of South Africa
Johannesburg, 18 August 2026 — Few rivalries in international sport carry the history, intensity and mutual respect of South Africa versus New Zealand.
Ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 All Blacks Tour of South Africa, adidas is celebrating that rivalry with Greatness Collides, a campaign that brings together rugby legends, current stars and the next generation of supporters.
The campaign looks beyond the 80 minutes of a rugby match to explore the communities, traditions and shared passion that have helped make the South Africa-New Zealand contest one of the sport’s defining rivalries.
A seven-match tour
The 2026 All Blacks Tour of South Africa features a seven-match series, beginning with an opening fixture against the DHL Stormers, followed by three highly anticipated Test matches between South Africa and New Zealand.
For supporters on both sides, the tour represents another chapter in a rivalry built over generations.
Adidas’ Greatness Collides campaign draws on that history while celebrating the culture surrounding the game — from neighbourhood rugby fields and backyard matches to the stadiums where international rivalries reach their peak.
Legends meet the next generation
At the centre of the campaign is a cinematic hero film featuring adidas athletes and rugby legends from both nations.
South Africa is represented by stars Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, alongside Springbok legend Jean de Villiers.
New Zealand is represented by Beauden Barrett and Ruben Love, with All Blacks legend Dan Carter also featuring.
Together, the players tell a story about the pride, emotion and respect that have developed around one of rugby’s most celebrated rivalries.
Although the players will ultimately face one another on opposite sides of the field, the campaign places them under the same Three Stripes, highlighting adidas’ connections with both rugby nations.
More than a match
The Greatness Collides campaign focuses on the idea that rugby’s most important stories do not necessarily end when the final whistle blows.
Friendships, family traditions, community pride and memories passed between generations all form part of the culture surrounding the sport.
According to Tom Brown, Senior Brand Director at adidas South Africa, the campaign is intended to celebrate the elements that make the fixture between South Africa and New Zealand particularly special.
“Greatness Collides celebrates what happens when two rugby powerhouses meet.”
Brown said the campaign also highlights the communities, traditions and players that have helped shape the rivalry over generations.
New All Blacks collection
Alongside the campaign, adidas has launched the new adidas x New Zealand Rugby All Blacks Collection, created to commemorate the 2026 All Blacks Tour of South Africa.
The collection is designed to give supporters different ways to express their rugby allegiance, both on match days and in everyday life.
The leisurewear range includes men’s and women’s T-shirts, quarter-zips, pants and shorts, alongside official match and training apparel.
The collection forms part of the wider adidas Rugby Fanwear offering, allowing supporters to incorporate rugby-inspired clothing into their everyday wardrobes.
The wider range is available through selected adidas stores, wholesale partners and online.
Rugby pride beyond match day
The campaign and collection reflect the growing connection between sport and lifestyle, with supporters increasingly looking for ways to express their connection to their teams away from the stadium.
For adidas, the 2026 All Blacks Tour provides an opportunity to celebrate both the competitive intensity of the rivalry and the culture that surrounds it.
With two rugby nations preparing to meet once again, Greatness Collides puts the spotlight on the people, stories and traditions that make South Africa versus New Zealand about more than the scoreboard.
Fans can explore the adidas Rugby Fanwear range and the adidas x New Zealand Rugby All Blacks Collection through selected stores, wholesale partners and adidas’ online rugby offering.
The Greatness Collides campaign film is also available to watch on YouTube.
