Super Rugby Aotearoa's unique trophy has been unveiled - but can anyone prevent the Crusaders from taking it home?

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has unveiled Tu Kotahi Aotearoa, the unique trophy that will be presented to the winner of Super Rugby Aotearoa 2020.

Created by Otaki carver Bill Doyle, the trophy represents the coming together of the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders in the wake of the disruption and turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

T? K?tahi Aotearoa, which translates to Stand As One New Zealand, will be on display at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch for the Crusaders crunch match against the Hurricanes at 7.05pm on Saturday night (25 July) before heading north to Eden Park for the Blues v Chiefs match at 3.35pm on Sunday (26 July).

The All Blacks and Hurricanes loose forward discusses his team’s upcoming game against the Crusaders, his time at the back of the scrum and the prospect of a pacific islands team in Super Rugby.

The All Blacks and Hurricanes loose forward discusses his team’s upcoming game against the Crusaders, his time at the back of the scrum and the prospect of a pacific islands team in Super Rugby.

The trophy remains up for grabs heading into Round 7 of Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa with the Crusaders holding a five-point lead at the top of the table on 18 points, ahead of the Blues (13), the Hurricanes (12), and the Highlanders (10). Only the Chiefs (4) are mathematically out of contention.

Carved out of totara, the Tu Kotahi Aotearoa base represents an upturned waka. The traditional pounamu mere mounted on top signifies the strength and unity rugby has shown to create Investec Super Rugby Aotearoa and bring the rugby community back together.

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NZR Kaihautu Luke Crawford said the name of the trophy derived from a Maori whakaaro (thought) coined while the country was in lockdown.

“That thought spoke to Noho Tawhiti, which means to stay apart, but also Tu Kotahi, which means do things together. As a country, we needed to stay separated, but still be in this together to fight Covid-19.

“The bigger concept around it was the value rugby has had in providing a platform for the country to reunite post lockdown… so that was the korero, Noho Tawhiti Tu Kotahi.

“In the context of Super Rugby Aotearoa, it’s fitting that we say ‘Tu Kotahi Aotearoa’ or ‘Stand As One New Zealand’, which is what the five clubs, the fans and the rugby community are doing in 2020.”

Crawford said the trophy was intentionally rooted in humility (Whakaititanga), with the pounamu and accompanying taura (rope), repurposed from those normally presented to players for reaching 100 Investec Super Rugby Caps.

“It has been a difficult time for many with job losses and economic impact, so it needed to be humble but still meaningful and authentic and also to serve as a maumaharatanga, or memory, of this time. ‘Ahakoa he iti he pounamu’ – ‘It is humble but it is precious’.”

Doyle said he was “honoured” to be asked to create the trophy, which was designed in consultation with Te Wananga o Raukawa master-carver Jason Hina.

The designs in the wood were puhoro, traditional Maori leg tattoo, and unanahi, which represent the scales of a fish.

“The unanahi represent Tangaroa [the Maori God of the sea]. They represent protection [for the waka during its journey]. The puhoro represents speed and balance and deception and everything you would have in a game of rugby.”

The trophy has a special rugby connection for Doyle, whose son Sam (Ngati Raukawa) was an original member of the Hurricanes in 1996, played fullback for the Maori All Blacks against the 1993 British and Irish Lions and represented Manawatu and Wellington.

– New Zealand Rugby