Saturday, June 19, 2010

New Zealand national rugby union team - Jersey



The current All Blacks jersey is entirely black, with the Adidas logo and the NZRU silver fern on the front. The 1884 New Zealand tour to Australia was the first overseas New Zealand rugby tour, and featured clothing far different from today's jersey. Back then, the team donned a dark blue jersey, with gold fern on the left of the jumper.[68] In 1893 the NZRU stipulated at its annual general meeting that the uniform would be black jersey with a silver fern and white knickerbockers. However historic photographs suggest white shorts may have been used instead during these early years. Sometime between 1897 and 1901 there was a change; by 1901 the team met NSW in a black jersey, a canvas top with no collar, and a silver fern.
New Zealand jersey is today considered the most recognisable rugby jersey. Recently it has become traditional for New Zealand to wear an embroidered poppy on their jersey sleeve when playing France during the end of year tours. The poppy honours the soldiers who died in the battlefields of Europe. Captain Richie McCaw said "We want to honour the overseas service of New Zealanders. It is an important part of our history as a country and a team.".
Adidas currently pays the NZRFU $200 Million over 9 years, expecting New Zealand to win around 75% of their matches.[74] Nike also looked at sponsoring New Zealand in 1996, but went with Tiger Woods instead.
The change kit has traditionally been white with black shorts. After a few years playing with a change kit consisting of a gray shirt and black shorts, the team announced a return to the traditional change kit of white jersey and black shorts in May 2009.

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