Rugby Football Uniforms


Figure 1.--This is a team photograph from Morrison's Accademy in Scotland. It looks to be a junior team. We are not sure whem the photograph was taken, probably the 1980s. The rugby has "MATCH" written on it. Perhaps the boys won a house match. A reader, however, tells us, "I think 'Match' - it is clearly printed on - will be the name of the manufacturer of the rugby ball."

We do not have information at this time about rugby uniforms in the late 19th century. We have seen uniforms in the early 20th century of boys wearing long-length shorts. After World War II the standard uniform for soccer was a kind of long-sleeved collared shirt. The collar was commonly white. It buttoned only part of the way down the shirt. (This became known as a rugby shirt. Grey school shirts were also made in this style.). The shirt itself was made in colored stripes. Schools commonly chose combinations in the school colors. The shorts were commonly cut briefly. Blue was very common. We have noticed other colors including grey. The material was normally cooton, but we have noted wool flannel as well.

Chronology

We do not have information at this time about rugby uniforms in the late 19th century. We have seen uniforms in the early 20th century of boys wearing long-length shorts. After World War II the standard uniform for soccer was a kind of long-sleeved collared shirt.

Garments

Perhaps the most widely known rugby garment is the rugby shirt. This was a polo-type shirt which only buttoned part of the wat down the front. The collar was commonly white. It buttoned only part of the way down the shirt. (This became known as a rugby shirt. Grey school shirts were also made in this style.). The shirt itself was made in colored stripes. Schools commonly chose combinations in the school colors. The shorts were commonly cut briefly. Blue was very common. We have noticed other colors including grey. The material was normally cooton, but we have noted wool flannel as well.

Shirt

Perhaps the most widely known rugby garment is the rugby shirt. This was a polo-type shirt which only buttoned part of the wat down the front. The collar was commonly white. It buttoned only part of the way down the shirt. (This became known as a rugby shirt. Grey school shirts were also made in this style.). The shirt itself was made in colored stripes. Normally bold colors. Schools commonly chose combinations in the school colors. These shirts became very popular in the 1960s for casual boys' wear. They were done in both long and short sleeves. Actual English rugby uniform shirts were done with long sleeves.

Pants

Rugby pants were short pants. The shorts were commonly cut briefly. Blue was very common. We have noticed other colors including grey. The material was normally cooton, but we have noted wool flannel as well.

Hosiery

Rugby hosiery was kneesocks. English schools often used striped kneesocks coordinated with the shirts. Scottish schools like the school here more often used solid colored kneesocks (figure 1). A British reader tells us, "At secondary school we were supposed to have "ties" to keep up our rugby socks. They were just strips of cloth but were expensive. My Mum just made some for me from an old sheet! (It was important to keep rugby socks up as in the scrum that was the only way you could identify whose legs were on your side and whose the opponents. Thus when we had kit inspection before games not having your sock ties meant that you were not allowed to play!).






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Created: 10:41 PM 7/24/2004
Last updated: 12:44 PM 4/29/2005