Springboks could be forced to don blue jersey for most of Rugby World Cup – report

The Springboks won’t play most of their Rugby World Cup matches in their traditional Green and Gold jersey, according to reports.

World Rugby have reportedly brought forward a new policy on kit clashes for colourblind fans, which will see the Springboks trot out in their alternate kit for most of their games.

The policy states that opposition teams cannot both play in dark jerseys in a move which could see the Boks wear their iconic Green and Gold in their pool matches against Tonga and Romania.

No Green and Gold for Springboks’ World Cup opener

According to Sunday newspaper Rapport, the Springboks will turn out in their opening pool game against Scotland in their alternate kit while they are set to feature in a white jersey against Ireland.

The paper notes that if South Africa faces New Zealand or France in the quarter-finals, the draw will determine whether the Springboks will trot out in their alternate kit or home one.

Both the All Blacks’ black and France’s blue jerseys are dark tones which, under World Rugby’s policy, will clash with the Boks’ green.

The policy was set to be introduced in 2025, but the report adds that it will be brought forward for this year’s World Cup.

Despite this, South Africa are set to face both Wales and New Zealand in their classic Green and Gold in their final warm-up matches before the tournament.

The turquoise Springboks jersey made its debut in the Boks’ first warm-up match against Argentina and has received polarising reviews from ex-players and fans.

Former captain John Smith is not a fan of the jersey, tweeting: “And it has to be said this is a training jersey not an away Bok jersey.”

South Africa and New Zealand oppose kit clash policy change

The change in World Rugby’s kit clash policy was first mooted back in April this year, with both New Zealand and South Africa opposing the decision.

“While SA Rugby supports World Rugby’s ambition to make rugby as inclusive as possible, we have serious reservations about the potential impacts the application of the colour-blindness regulations may have, and believe they need further interrogation,” SA Rugby chief Rian Oberholzer disclosed in an email to the Daily Maverick.

“For instance, it would mean that the Springboks and All Blacks would never meet again with both in their primary colours at any World Rugby event.

“The guidelines say that: ‘If only one person watching on the sidelines of the school field is having trouble following some elements of the game due to an avoidable kit clash, then rugby is letting them down.’

“But we believe that some or all of the 11 out of 12 males and 199 out of 200 women who are not colourblind (on the statistical base presented) may also feel let down if the time-honoured traditions of the game are lost, setting aside the potential damage to the equity established in those colours and brands over centuries.”

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