Welcome to this website’s off-season sports sartorial content. We are counting down the world’s top 50 most iconic sports uniforms. Only current uniforms apply, we are not including one-off or alternate uniforms. Let’s stick to the basics.
#25
All Blacks Rugby
We’ve now entered the top half of our countdown and we turn our attention to world rugby. There are some certified bangers in this sport that all could’ve made a case for inclusion on our list. The all-royal blue from Italy, the white and red rose from England, the green and yellow from South Africa, and the bright Kelly green from Ireland are all iconic in the sport.
Nothing sticks out quite like the New Zealand rugby, though.
The All Blacks have an impressive kit history in terms of simplicity and tradition–perhaps greater than any other team that will be included in our top 25 countdown. At their 1884 first international tour, the team first debuted the silver fern logo that they’ve been wearing ever since. How many teams in the world have had a logo that long and never changed it?
They originally wore blue but for over 100 years the team has been adorned in black rugby uniforms. White collars and other small amounts of white trim have been common through the years, although the current kit created by Adidas is almost entirely black.
This uniform performing the haka before matches is one of the best moments in world sports.
If this is 25, I’ll be super interested in the other 24 ahead of it.
Is it just me, or does it seem like every rugby player has redwood trees for legs? These fellas are absolutely massive
It’s not just you. I watched some of the Netflix series on rugby and was shocked by their size.
Even the fly half players are beasts.
I’m convinced that the rugby positions that run more (idk what the positions names are) are the peak of physical fitness
the dude in the second row on the left would be much more intimidating doing the haka without his little french mustache. something i would NOT say to his face.
jersey wise, these are spectacular. both iconically and aesthetically. but why did adidas feel it was necessary to put their logo right in the middle of the shin? i think it draws away from their stripes on the shoes.
They are absolutely top notch, I love the All Blacks. I visited NZ 20 years ago, and didn’t get a chance to see this team play, but I did stumble upon a high school/college game in an old ivy-covered stadium with a big analog clock and everything. The players were wearing striped rugby uniforms. With no forward passing, and a timeless look, it really showed me what early American football probably looked like 100 years earlier. It was really unbelievable.
Well deserved spot. For anyone who wants to jump to mid-way down the youtube-haka rabbit hole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J202Uu0Blo