Prince William Cup

The trophy was chosen by Prince William, from three different designs presented by specialist jewellers. Mari Thomas, from Llanelli, and Nicola Palterman, from Neath won the commission to create the cup.[1] The pair, who have exhibited their jewellery around the world from London to New York City, claim the creation of the 55 cm high, 1.5 mm gauge trophy as their biggest and most elaborate creation to date. The Prince William Cup is inspired by the landscapes of South Africa and Wales.[1] The trophy is silver lined with 23 carat gold plate and is cone shaped tapering from 16cm at the rim to 8cm at its base.[2] The trophy is the ninth of its type in world rugby and was presented to the winner of the first clash by Prince William himself.[3]

The naming of the cup for Prince William has caused considerable controversy in Wales. Many people called on the WRU to rename the trophy in honour of Welsh international rugby star Ray Gravell, who died on 31 October 2007.[4] During a tribute to Gravell at the inaugural match the stadium announcer asked the crowd to remember Ray as 'gwir dywysog Cymru', a true prince of Wales. Gravell's funeral was attended by over 10,000 people, including Rhodri Morgan, First Minister of Wales. On-line petitions were launched. The matter was raised in the National Assembly for Wales by Helen Mary Jones AM backed by a number of other AMs[5] including Bethan Jenkins.[6] Amongst MPs, Labour MP Paul Flynn and Plaid's Adam Price MP called for the WRU to honour Ray Gravell as a patriotic Welshman rather than Prince William, regarded by many in Wales as an Englishman who openly supports the England rugby and football teams.[7]

An online petition has been created calling for the cup to be renamed to honour Ray Gravell.[8]

• ST – Summer Test
• AI – Autumn International

Year	Date	Venue	Home	Score	Away	Trophy Winner
2018	24 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	20–11	South Africa
2018	2 June	RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.	South Africa	20–22	Wales
2017	2 December	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	24–22	South Africa
2016	26 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	27–13	South Africa
2014	29 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	12–6	South Africa
2014	14 June	Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit	South Africa	31–30	Wales
	7 June	Kings Park Stadium, Durban		38–16
2013	9 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	15–24	South Africa
2010	13 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	25–29	South Africa
2010	5 June	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	31–34	South Africa
2008	8 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	15–20	South Africa
2008	14 June	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria	South Africa	37–21	Wales
	7 June	Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein		43–17
2007	24 November	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff	Wales	12–34	South Africa

• History of rugby union matches between South Africa and Wales