The Protea should adorn the Springbok jersey in time for this summer’s Lions tour, say South Africa’s kit suppliers Canterbury.
After widespread private and public discussion, it was decided last year that the Springbok emblem would be moved to the right-hand side of the jersey, with the Protea being introduced on the left chest and the Canterbury logo moving to the middle of the shirt.
The King Protea (the national flower of South Africa) features on the playing kits of all other South African sporting teams and is now likely to be included on the Springbok jersey for the first time when the Lions arrive in the Republic later this summer.
Canterbury’s manager of sponsorships Spencer King has stated that the new kit is already in the manufacturing stages but that the decision when to first use the kit will be made by the South African Rugby Union.
"The launch date has yet to be decided, but I’m confident it’ll be before the Lions tour here in June,” said King.
"Everything will have to be in place because we have to also consider the commercial aspect of it and its availability in the stores for the fans.
"We’re simply a supplier and sponsor; it’s SA Rugby’s call when they want to use it."
The next Springbok Test, and therefore the earliest opportunity for the kit to be worn in an international, is the first Test clash with the Lions in Durban on June 20.
