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Top 5 international rugby kits
All rugby fans know that looking good on the pitch doesn’t win any trophies. Having said that, a great kit can make teams a quick fan favourite or even iconic.
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The best kits resemble something greater than the game and can transport fans back to a specific match or memory.
To celebrate the best kits the game of rugby has produced, this list will highlight the top five international shirts. Some are full of flare, others are timeless classics – either way the kits in this list show it’s possible to look good even with your head in a scrum.
1. Japan 2019:
Sometimes rugby can transcend tries, tackles and lineouts.
The home kit from Japan during their own Rugby World Cup in 2019 is a prime example of this.
The tournament marked a defining moment in the history of rugby as its greatest competition reached Asian shores for the first time, making this kit hugely significant before Japan had even played in it.
It also helps that country had an outstanding tournament in this kit, wearing it during their unforgettable victory over Scotland just days after a typhoon had hit the country.
Then you have the shirt itself. Japan as a country has always been synonymous with outstanding beauty, and this shirt is a perfect representation of this. The unique approach to horizontal stripes gives it a classic look which pays homage to the Land of the Rising Sun’s heritage.
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Another feature of the jersey which puts it easily into the top five is the gold accents. Gold can sometimes be overused on kits (See Ospreys home top from the 09/10 season) and has the potential to ruin an otherwise great shirt. In this case however, the gold is used perfectly – the thin lines under each stripe make the shirt even more timeless.
2. New Zealand 2015:
The All Blacks, with a completely black kit – what’s not to love? A fully black New Zealand shirt is nothing out of the ordinary for rugby fans, but this kit went one step further by also darkening the numbers and logos. This allowed the already brilliant colours of Kiwi rugby to create a shirt that was truly brilliant.
While it may not have the artistic touches of Japan’s kit in 2019, this All Blacks number is more representative of the respect given to New Zealand at the time and was the perfect shirt to wear when the Kiwi’s won their second world cup in a row.
3. Lions 1997:
1997 is perhaps the defining tour in the British & Irish Lions‘ rich history and it is fitting that the kit from that year was the best Lions kit ever produced.
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The simplicity of the Lion’s traditional red and white has always been appealing but 1997 marked the first year Adidas had the rights to the shirt, and with that came the iconic three stripes on the sleeves. The simple white sponsor logo also fits well onto the shirt and doesn’t detract from the classic look.
The shirt also boasted a prominent white colour which had the added detail of a lion on the right hand side – a small touch which only added to the greatness of the kit.
4. Australia 2017:
In recent seasons it has become extremely popular for kits, in any sport, to adopt a classic look or try and replicate an historical design. Australia attempted this in 2017 and got it spot on.
Firstly, they have kept true to their iconic gold and green, which always looks powerful on the pitch. However, what makes this kit one of the best ever is the pattern across the sleeves and bottom of the shirt which is a nod to the country’s indigenous heritage.
Not only does the shirt look incredible, it is an important tribute to the nation’s history and culture. The design became so popular with fans and players that the AFU bought an adaptation of the kit back for the alternate shirt in 2019 – a truly beautiful and significant kit.
5. Barbarians:
Despite being one of the most iconic and well loved teams in the game, the Barbarians are often forgotten about when discussing the best kits of all time. Not in this list.
The black and white stripes have always been an extremely effective combo and a large number of Ba-Bas kits could have featured in this list. The one we have chosen reflects the traditional thick hoops of a Barbarians kit and also has a collar, which always looks good on a rugby kit.
Ba-Bas jerseys have the added bonus of only being worn by players who have been invited to play for the team, making them a badge of honour as much as a kit.
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments