Six Nations: Why Ireland and Wales will face off in green and red jerseys for the final time

The 2024 Six Nations clash between Ireland and Wales will be the final time the two nations face off in their traditional kit colours.

Going forward, the away team will wear an alternative kit for the clash due to the green and red clashing for colour-blind supporters.

The green-red combination is a particular issue for colour-blind fans, and it is due to surface again in next week’s Dublin clash between the countries. However, this is set to be the final occasion that this will happen.

World Rugby change kit regulations

World Rugby regulations will come into force in January next year, and they aim to assist those with colour vision deficiency (CVD).

The move from rugby’s governing body has been met with some resistance, with South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand being notable detractors of the move.

However, the Six Nations will adopt the new regulations, with all teams mandated to avoid kit clashes that could negatively impact spectators and television viewers suffering from CVD.

Wales‘ change kit this season is black, which would not have averted the problem at the Aviva Stadium next weekend – neither would the green kit that they wore in the past. This could lead to the Welsh side adding another kit colour in the coming years.

For the clash during the 2025 season, Ireland is set to feature in the change kit against Wales in Cardiff – probably white – as new Six Nations guidelines will also see away teams don their alternate kit, as we saw during Round Two of the Six Nations when France wore their change jerseys against Scotland.

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“We need to think laterally”

Traditionally in rugby, the home team has worn the change kit, but the Six Nations have recently moved away from that tradition.

“Kit colour clashes do change the way you watch a game, and I have absolute empathy with those whose enjoyment is affected as a result,” Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said.

“Our current alternate kit is black, and we have used green in the recent past. Neither of these examples particularly help with this issue, and additionally, the colour red in Wales is not just traditional, but a part of our culture.

“But there are other ways to work around the issues, and kits with significantly different designs can help avoid the problem too.

“We need to think laterally about how we can overcome the issue ahead of next year, perhaps not just with more inventive use of colours, but in our kit designs too.

“If one team is in checks and the other is in stipes, for example, then colours become pretty irrelevant, but we are thinking hard about a solution that works for everyone.

“We recognise that this is a serious issue for many fans, and we are taking it very seriously ourselves.

“It is regrettable that we haven’t reached a resolution to suit all this season, but I can confirm we are fully committed to correcting that in the next kit cycle.”

Around one in 12 men suffer from colour vision deficiency (CVD) and one in 200 women globally. World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont also suffers from CVD.

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