The simple way to prove Boks also hold the 'unofficial world title'
Two weeks ago, a Kiwi colleague with a penchant for riling South Africans put together a piece on rugby’s “unofficial world titles”. The author reimagined the world order by backdating meetings between the Six Nations champions and the winners of the Rugby Championship to find alternative claims to being the best outside of World Cups.
After 688 words he demonstrated New Zealand’s supremacy over the rest of the field. More controversially he pointed out that Ireland had two world titles while the South African Springboks – the double World Cup winning Springboks no less – had none. In an increasingly febrile rivalry, this was yet another touchpoint.
Cue the expected pandemonium from triggered Boks fans. But amidst the anger and vitriol, among the baited comments and rage-clicks there was a sincere plea for reason. Two days after the article was unleashed, a ‘come-and-get-me’ request for an interview was sent to RugbyPass by a relatively unknown account that could provide the answer to one of rugby’s most challenging questions.
“I firmly believe that what we’re doing creates additional meaning in our sport,” explains David Algie who, in 2008, first recognised a gap in rugby’s narrative. “Outside of World Cups and the big competitions in the northern and southern hemisphere, Test matches don’t carry that much significance. With respect most are just friendlies. But what if there was something riding on the games? That’s where the idea began.”
It’s a simple concept. A winner-stays-on competition with roots all the way back to rugby’s first internationals. The men’s iteration is called the Raeburn Shield after the location of Scotland’s 1-0 win over England in 1871 and is currently held by South Africa. The women’s version, the Utrecht Shield, dubbed in honour of the venue of France’s 4-0 triumph of the Netherlands in 1982, is currently held by Australia.
“These are testimonies to rugby’s history,” gushes Algie, who was part of a small online community of disgruntled All Blacks fans who wondered in 2008, after yet another premature World Cup exit, if there wasn’t a different way to measure success. “It’s a thread that connects the game. I can look at a timeline and find a link between Siya Kolisi’s Springboks and just about every other team across 153 years of rugby. How cool is that?”
Though not officially sanctioned by World Rugby, Algie is adamant that the two shields can inject significance into otherwise glorified friendlies. The argument that nothing else matters besides a World Cup win has gained traction in recent years and, with the Springboks espousing that message, the importance of bone-crunching contests beyond World Rugby’s showpiece events runs the risk of diminishing into irrelevance.
“If people better understood what we’re about, fans and commentators and journalists and even the players might start to look at games that would otherwise not get a second glance and think, ‘hang on, maybe this matters,” Algie adds.
“South Africa play Wales later this year in the Qatar Airways Cup. OK, big deal, right? But as holders of the Raeburn Shield, there’s something on the line. Now if Wales win it, Australia could get a crack at it in the [northern hemisphere] summer. And if the Springboks beat Wales then Ireland could have a shot when they tour South Africa.
“We’re trying to spark a new narrative, a new talking point in the game. Think of the drama of the captain of the current holders walking out with this massive 70×70 cm shield and placing it pitch side before kick-off. And then think of the photo if that captain has to hand the shield over after being beaten. All of a sudden you’ve created an event. We all know about the concept that says, ‘to be the best, you have to beat the best’. This is what we’re trying to achieve.”
There is precedent for lineal championships. The Ranfurly Shield in New Zealand domestic rugby has garnered enough interest to create “Shield fever”, as Algie puts it. Ivory Coast, the current champions of Africa, are the present holders of the ‘Unofficial Football World Championships’ . This might come as a surprise to casual football fans but, as Algie explains, part of the joy of lineal competitions lies in their unpredictability.
“If we’re honest, not every team has a realistic shot of winning a World Cup,” he says. “But in a one-off game, against a top team that has maybe rested a lot of their star players, well then you have a chance.”
New Zealand are predictably the most successful side in the Shield’s history with 155 defences. South Africa are second best with 87 and England are third with 62. But there are some surprising names on the list. Japan and Argentina have twice held the title while Samoa and Romania have each been custodians once.
“That’s something to be proud of,” Algie emphasises. “I wonder how many Samoan and Romanian fans know that their team was once the unofficial best in the world.
“My research into these rare wins has shone a light on some fascinating stories. For example, the Romanian team that beat Scotland in 1984 was predominantly made up of bodyguards for the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu so they were able to train full time and that gave them a leg up. The Scottish team they beat [28-22 in Bucharest] were the Grand Slam champions, so that was impressive by any stretch.
“Conversely, France hasn’t held the Shield since 2009. They’ve only had eight chances at winning it since then. Antoine Dupont has never held the lineal championship and might only get a few more chances in his career. So if he knew about it he might hold it in higher regard and then that match becomes an event.”
Only the Utrecht Shield exists in the physical realm. Made by an Edinburgh-based woodworker, the large chunk of oak still needs a silver sheet upon which the winners’ names will be engraved. Stickers are providing a temporary alternative until the needed £7,000 are raised.
“My wife is supportive of my passion project,” explains Algie, who is a father of three and spends much of his free time devoted to rugby’s unofficial crowns. “But she’s not going to sign off on that kind of money. And rightly so. Instead we’re asking supporters to donate what they can. In return they’ll have their names engraved on the back of the shields and forever be linked with rugby’s history.
“My mission is simple. I want to create more fun for players and fans. I firmly believe that the additional meaning and competition creates that for everybody. Everyone can win this. And we don’t need additional matches. There’s no additional load on the players. It adds value to every competition or cross hemisphere tour. Of course the World Cup is the main prize, but this is a great compliment.”
Comments on RugbyPass
wel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
4 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
4 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
4 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
5 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
5 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
5 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
5 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
4 Go to commentsThis is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
90 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
20 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments