The Golden Shears World Championships saw South Africa triumph once again, cementing its place as a leading nation in blade shearing.
Masterson, New Zealand (12 March 2026) – South Africa is once again celebrating success on the global stage after claiming top honours at the Golden Shears World Championships in Masterton, New Zealand, reaffirming the country’s reputation as one of the leading forces in competitive sheep shearing.
South African shearer Bonile Rabela was crowned Blade Shearing World Champion, securing the prestigious Golden Shears title for the second time in his career. Fellow South African Teboho Nyatsa also delivered a strong performance, finishing second to claim the silver medal.
According to Herman Archer, president of the South African Sheep Shearing Federation, the achievement was particularly special given the stature of the event and the country hosting it.
“It was a huge privilege to compete there. Masterton is almost like the world standard of shearing, he said. “There is a lot of history in New Zealand around shearing, and the hype around the championships is incredible. To go there and beat the Kiwis in their own country is a very big thing for us.”
Often referred to as the pinnacle of international shearing competitions, the Golden Shears attracts the best shearers from around the world. Herman described the atmosphere inside the venue as something many South Africans might not expect from a sheep shearing event.
“Tickets were sold out even before the competition started. The atmosphere was almost like watching a rugby match. People cheering, shouting and supporting their teams.”
While speed is important in the competition, he emphasised that becoming a champion shearer requires far more than simply finishing first.
“The judges are looking for quality as well. The shearers must handle the sheep carefully, they must not cut the animal, and they must remove the wool properly. At the end of the day, it must be a clean and professional job.”
He added that working with live animals means every run presents new challenges.
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“No two sheep are the same. One might be easy and the next one might be difficult, so the shearer must have skill to work through that.”
South Africa and New Zealand remain the dominant forces in the blade shearing discipline, with both countries producing some of the world’s best competitors. South Africa has also claimed this title before, underlining the team’s strength at the very top level of the sport.
“We have been fortunate to win this title before, but it means there is always a target on our back. Our guys know the feeling of winning, and they want to experience it again. It’s that South African mentality of never giving up.”
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