The South African government is proposing measures to protect the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026 Tour from counterfeit goods and unauthorized businesses by designating it a protected event.

This would grant the South African Rugby Union (SARU) enhanced legal authority to prevent unauthorized use of the tour's branding, including logos, names, and slogans.

SARU would also need to adhere to government Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) regulations when selecting suppliers, prioritizing local businesses, especially those owned by previously disadvantaged communities.

However, the opposition party Solidarity argues that these rules grant the government excessive control over a private rugby event, potentially affecting existing deals for jerseys, marketing, and other products.Solidarity's legal team is preparing an objection, warning that such regulations could increase costs and complicate event organization.The proposal also requires SARU to submit a post-tour report detailing revenue, economic impact, and benefits to local businesses.Critics fear similar rules could be applied to other private sporting and cultural events in the future, raising concerns about regulatory overreach.