Nike Unveils New England Rugby Kit
Nike has unveiled the England Rugby team playing kits for the 2011-12 season, with the home kit for the first time being 100% white – a stark contrast to the new change kit – a 100% black design.
Both kits feature Nike technology to give players every advantage on the field, with the playing kit tailored and improved to reflect player feedback from past seasons.
Rugby Football Union chief commercial officer Sophie Goldschmidt said: ‘We are delighted with the new kits which will keep England at the forefront of rugby design and innovation thanks to our long-standing relationship with Nike’.
‘We believe both kits will be very popular with supporters in what is an exciting year for English and global rugby’.
Marc Van Pappelendam, general manager Nike UK & Ireland added: ‘The classic new white home kit and the contrasting black change kit are our most innovative and bold playing kits created for the England squad’.
‘As the world’s leading sports brand we wanted to inspire the team with our bold designs, whilst ensuring that our innovation in apparel gives players added performance benefits on the pitch to give them the advantage’.
The tight-fitting playing shirt is made of Nike Dri FIT fabric – a technology engineered to provide sweat management for athletes, pulling moisture away from the body to optimize player temperature and help them keep them cool and dry.
All materials are strength-tested at Loughborough University to ensure they remain strong but flexible on game day to prevent tearing.
Based on player feedback, the collar has elastic within the neckline for the first time, keeping the neckline as close to the body as possible to help prevent shirt pulling whilst providing comfort and there is also a silicone gripper at the hemline of the playing shirt to help keep it tucked in and close to the body.
For the first time the shorts feature a new flock hand dry print to help players keep hands dry during games.
The new white kit will be worn when England play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, 13th August and again against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on 27th August.
The new change kit will be worn for the first time when England play Wales at Twickenham Stadium in the Investec International on 6th August and again against Argentina in Dunedin on 10th September due to a clash with the light blue and white of the Pumas.
Fans can pre-order the replica IRB Rugby World Cup and O2 branded kits from www.rfudirect.com or www.nikestore.com/rugby and they will be available in stores from Friday, 5th August – retailing at £50 for a replica, or RRP £90 for an authentic playing shirt.
