With the winds of change blustering through European Rugby, the RFU have launched their new-look kits in conjunction with supplier, Canterbury.
Many fans and commentators on the game have greeted this development with some surprise. Dumping Nike after 25 years? A NZ company with their badge on their chest? Unheard of to many!
However, RFU's Chief Commercial Officer, Sophie Goldschmidt took time out to explain to Planet Rugby the thinking behind the changes:
"Canterbury are the leading brand that are purely rugby focused," she revealed on Thursday.
"We believe this deal will take the England apparel to a whole new level from a performance perspective. The shirt is leading edge in its technology and performance and already the players are delighted with its features.
"We've spent a lot of time with Canterbury developing features that the modern players demand. We have the backing of Stuart Lancaster and his team, and already, the feedback from the squad has been very positive."
Goldschmidt continued by saying that recapturing the England of yesteryear was a mindset they had, with memories of the old Five Nations set to come flooding back for rugby fans.
"We've also taken this as an opportunity to bring back some of the tradition and heritage of playing for England and these and the values are so important to the game," she said.
"As an example, the purple tracksuit, a prized and totally exclusive item in previous years for capped players, has been re-introduced, and will remain totally exclusive to those who have the ultimate honour of representing their country. We've also gone back to the dark blue socks of English rugby.
"Stuart's philosophy is to have absolute pride in playing for England, and both the tracksuit and socks are important symbols of being an England Rugby International, and something players of yesteryear cherish. It's appropriate to re-introduce these in line with the values of tradition and integrity that we as a Union are promoting throughout the game.
"With the new backing of Pentland Group (who own Berghaus amongst many other leisure brands) we also believe that Canterbury are best placed to promote and distribute the new kit successfully. With regard to those that have criticised the hierarchy of the badging, we would point out that we are bound by IRB regulations on these issues and the badging follows the guidelines exactly."
So there you have it. Exciting times in rugby and we thank the RFU for taking time to explain so accurately their position. Change is inevitable in the game, and it is obvious from Ms. Goldschmidt's comments, the RFU have spent a lot of time researching this dilligently and properly, for the benefit of English rugby, from fans the players alike.
By James While
Comments
APV1 says...
@ sandal - a little daft from you, wasn't that? You're usually a little more measured and sensible. Let's put it down to an off day and move on, shall we?
@ LondonWasp & 5Lock4ward - as a traditionalist, I liked the plain white England top and the simple Blue, BLack and White hoops of the old Bath top. Not a big fan of this season's Bath top - too RL for my liking.
But I also liked the recent S15 Qld Reds' Aboriginal-style shirt they wore against the Highlanders:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,15997_7858471,00.html
And if you like the idea of three Kiwis on an England shirt, what do you make of St George on a Qld top then..?!
Posted 13:28 25th September 2012
Worldwary says...
LeftRightOut.....yep that's pretty funny flying 3 kiwis on the chest of your national shirt (regardless of the past or current origin of the company)
Posted 11:13 23rd September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@LondonWasp, I would have to say that the NZ Maori jersey worn during their last event was the best jersey I've ever seen. It was covered w/ reflective black Maori artwork, really something to see. I would say the '09 Lions shirt w/ the all red collar was up there on my list as well. I also really liked Argentina's Adidas jersey although I like what Nike did in terms of putting the sun from the Argentine flag on the back below the numbers. Canada's plain red and white jersey is quite nice but for some reason they add black to it during major events.
Posted 01:03 23rd September 2012
JamieTheProp says...
England home kit should be pure white - no red nonsense! That is the tradition! That is how it should be - anything else is nonsense!
Posted 10:08 22nd September 2012
LondonWasp says...
whilst we are one the subjects of kits, what do you think are/have been the best looking rugby kits?
discuss
Posted 01:20 22nd September 2012
LondonWasp says...
still prefer the 2007 red swipe kit. that was awesome. seems a little plain just to have just white... splash a bit of red on it!
Posted 01:19 22nd September 2012
ramm83 says...
@ ruckingkiwi - Portsmouth are about to enter administration (again) so unlikely they can afford Canterbury, I believe they now have their kit made by Kappa!
Posted 12:08 21st September 2012
JamieTheProp says...
Does it really matter who supplies the kit? Canterbury are a rugby brand - so that has to be a good thing!
As long as they make them in prop sized proportions I'll be happy! Preferably like a barrel!
It is amazing though how people will even manage to turn a story like this into a pop at England!
The thing is this is a great deal for Canterbury - making the shirts for the biggest union in the world knowing they will outsell any other nation on the planet!
Posted 09:26 21st September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
I remember Canterbury had Portsmouth soccer club for a few years ago, anyone know if they're still involved there or with soccer at all?
Posted 07:14 21st September 2012
5Lock4ward says...
@Houston_11, Stay on this site and click on the French nat'l team news. They recently switched to Adidas and this site showed the new gear. If you liked the Nike French uniform best you'll probably be disappointed. I believe I'm correct in saying that at this time Argentina is the only national team for which Nike provides the uniforms.
Posted 01:17 21st September 2012
LeftRightOut says...
Kiwi company, british company, who cares? The important thing is that the CCC logo includes three kiwi heads so the English team are NOW WEARING NZ's NATIONAL BIRD ON THEIR CHESTS hahahahaha
Posted 00:04 21st September 2012
rakavi187 says...
absolutely love it.... back to the old days, although a red collar would have made my day.
2 thumbs up from me.
Posted 21:41 20th September 2012
simojukes says...
have to agree with kybone, the nationality of a company is irrelevant. puma and adidas are originally german, so should the All Blacks and Ireland not be wearing it!?!? (obviously it doesnt matter) No one has issue when the Boks or Scotland where CCC kit...
secondly, i was pretty i read that Nike were not willing to invest the money that the RFU was looking for for a sustained period of time, therefore the RFU looked to go elsewhere.
Also JD Sports sold the Euro branch of CCC to the Pentland group last month for £22.7m
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19353647
by the way, Pentland Group started out with a single shoe store in Liverpool, therefore they are british. Oh and CCC Europe is registered as being a British company. Its registered address is in Manchester.
P.S. I like the white shirts. Still making up my mind on the Purple one. Glad the socks are back, and a BIG fan of the exclusive tracksuits for the Elite group.
Posted 17:53 20th September 2012
lawynd says...
@sandal - you must be a bit lopsided from that chip on your shoulder, son. Seriously, get a grip of yourself. I'd suggest the same of sincero too, pillocks the both of you.
Posted 17:47 20th September 2012
kybone says...
Who cares that Canterbury is a NZ company! Nike was an American company! And Canterbury has much more tradition in rugby.
Posted 17:20 20th September 2012
LeedsNick says...
5Lock4ward says.... Only "Canterbury Europe" was sold to JD Sports. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_of_New_Zealand
Posted 14:39 20th September 2012
lawynd says...
I'd wear that away top - those of us with expanding waistlines don't look so hot in white, and Canterbury's sizing is better (and more inclusive!) than Nike's was.
Also, 5lock4ward is bang on the money - CCC is a British firm these days.
Posted 14:10 20th September 2012
sandal says...
@Sincero
I agree. Speaking of kit, presumably such integrity is not that apparent last year when England went to the world cup with kit that mimicked that of the host nation, just to wind them up.
Glad they're putting that unsavoury episode behind them.
Posted 14:04 20th September 2012
ramm83 says...
When I first saw the away kit I thought it was awful. However, I hate to admit that it has started to grow on me...
Posted 13:03 20th September 2012
Sincero says...
'It's appropriate to re-introduce these in line with the values of tradition and integrity that we as a Union are promoting throughout the game.'
Sorry, got confused... though she was talking about the R.F.U. until she said that. Who is she working for, then?
Posted 12:55 20th September 2012