Your Rugby World 2019 Kits

There’s a dream, I feel
So rare, so real
All the world in union
The world as one

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is the ninth Rugby World Cup, and is being held in Japan from 20 September to 2 November. This is the first time the tournament is being held in Asia, and outside the traditional heartland of rugby union.

The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup took place at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Chōfu, Tokyo, and the final match will be held at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

The tournament will feature a variety of kits and this blog will feature said subject with a grade rating with A+ being top and F being bottom. 

Pool A
Ireland (Canterbury)

Get used to this template, because we’re going to be seeing a lot of it. The Irish primary kit is one of the better kits of the tournament. It’s attractive, showing that simplicity is sometimes the best policy when it comes to kit. My two (relatively minor) qualms are the mismatched collar trim and the weird slits down at the bottom of the jersey, that all Canterbury kits have at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Behold, the Canterbury Slits. Once you see them, you can’t unsee them, and they annoy me (almost) every time. And as Canterbury provides the most kits for this Rugby World Cup (seven including Ireland), I’ve been annoyed a lot. Overall: B+

The Irish alternate kit is even better than their primary and again reinforces the simplicity policy. It’s hard to tell in this image, but there’s a slight heathering effect to the grey part of the shirt — a small detail that I nonetheless love. It still has the Canterbury Slits down at the bottom, and they cost Ireland an “A+”. Overall: A

Scotland (Macron)

Unfortunately, Scotland won’t be wearing kilts on the pitch, but it’d be awesome if they did! Overall, I love this jersey. It’s the class of Pool A. From the tartan pattern on the yoke and collar, to the rich navy, to the no-frills or weird design choices (like the forthcoming Asics Collar or the Canterbury Slits). Overall: A+

The away kit is amazing, too. It still looks like Scotland, even with navy as only an accent color. I do wish we could see the full kit, though. Overall: A+

Japan (Canterbury)

The hosts claim the strange shape of the hoops on their kits represent a “samurai helmet.” But to me, they have the effect of making their players look like they have rectangular bodies, especially the primary white-and-red. This is one of the only Canterbury kits that doesn’t include the bottom slits, but it has the same cut as the others. This is hugely disappointing, especially considering their the hosts and their 2015 kits were gorgeous. A shame. Overall: D

The hoop effect isn’t so bad on the blue and gold, and I like that one a bit more. The blue and gold work well together, the Canterbury Slits aren’t quite as evident here as they are on other Canterbury kits, and the sublimated patterns are so off-the-wall that I actually kind of like them! Not sure what’s going on with GFGS shoulder yokes, though. Overall: C

Russia (Canterbury)

Gorgeous. Let’s start with the bad, though. Like other Canterbury teams, the Canterbury Slits are present and annoying, as is the piping that starts at the slits and goes all the way around the torso of the shirt. That being said, I love the design across the chest. It makes the team look so positively unique, and unlike any other team at the World Cup, that it elevates this kit into the top tier. Overall A

The design works even better on the blue away kits than the home red kits. Not a huge fan of the all-blue effect (would’ve liked to see some red shorts) but it hardly hurts the overall kit. Some of the best of 2019. Overall: A-

Samoa (BLK)

Love it. Love it love it love it. It’s hard to tell in the picture, but there are sublimated Samoan designs on the lower right part of the torso and left sleeve. “Tautua mo Samoa” is inscribed on the inside collar, and the shade of blue is perfect in evoking the waters around the island nations. I’m not a huge fan of the tiny bit of red on the collar — it looks cheap, and almost serves as an arrow pointing to the BLK logo. But otherwise, this is a home run. Overall: A

Weirdly, I don’t like Samoa’s alternate kit nearly as much. It looks like a training top, even though it’s effectively the same as the primary kit with the colors inverted. For whatever reason, it just looks less professional than the primary kit to me. Overall: C-

Pool B
New Zealand (Adidas)

A disappointing effort from the defending champs, as New Zealand have taken simplicity too far — their kit looks like a T-shirt. No collars, no trim, nothing — I saw three guys working out at the gym in New Zealand’s kit. There are sublimated fern and koru designs, which I do like, but it’s hardly enough to improve the All Blacks’ grade. I just feel bad we’re probably going to see Kieran Read hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup in this. Overall: D-

It’s the same as the primary kit, but white. All the same issues still apply. We’re just going to see it a lot less. Overall: D-

South Africa (Asics)

And here is our first introduction to the “Asics Collar”. For some reason, Asics is imposing huge, uterus-shaped cut outs smack in the middle of their kits. It’s ugly, it’s distracting, and it’s totally, totally unnecessary. Hell, even if the white was filled in with yellow it’d still be huge and ugly and distracting. It’s awful. The photography here is also good at hiding another superfluous and utterly annoying design element: the yellow rib stripe. Why is that there? We know they’re the Springboks!

The rest of the kit is great. It looks like a Springboks kit. I really dig the socks. But goddamn, that collar is putrid. Overall: C-

The best part about the change kit is that there’s no Asics Collar, because the rest of the kit is (almost) the same color as the uterus cut-out. That’s an improvement, I guess? On the other hand, the rest of the collar looks like one of those neck rolls you used to see NFL offensive linemen wear in the 90s. And what’s the deal with that random green stripe on the rib? Did someone at Asics HQ remember they were designing South Africa’s kit, panic, and decided to throw some green on there at the last minute? It’s even less explicable here, where yellow is the operative accent color, than it is on the primary kit. Inexcusable. Overall: D+

Italy (Macron)

Yup, that’s Italy! Bright blue home, white change. I like the home kit’s collar, though it could be a bit more prominent. But like Macron’s other efforts this cycle, it’s no-frills and looks great. Unfortunately, here you can see that the material in the shoulder yokes is slightly different than the material used on the rest of the kit — you couldn’t tell with Scotland’s tartan-patterned yokes. That will get mighty annoying, especially as players sweat through other parts of the kit, darkening it. Overall: B-

The away kit isn’t as good. There’s the weird little triangle dip in the collar, which almost looks like an arrow pointing to the Macron logo, and I don’t like that the stripes don’t go all the way up the kit. Either go all the way or don’t bother. Also looks like the stripes are a different shade of blue than the shorts and collar, but it might just be the lighting. Overall: C-

Namibia (Mizuno)

Mizuno provides the Welwitschias’ kits. These were hard as hell to track down, as Namibia Rugby’s official website hasn’t been updated since 2015 and its Facebook page and Twitter didn’t have any photographs of the actual kit. I was finally able to track down this extremely low-quality image thanks to Phil. Thanks, Phil! Judging by Mizuno’s marketing campaign for the Tonga kits, those stripes are supposed to represent a samurai’s armor; the effect is better on Tonga’s kit. Ah, the joy of kit templates.

I hate those giant red armpit stains. They seem totally superfluous and hurt what is otherwise a solid kit. And that collar is disgusting, it makes the jersey look incomplete. Overall: C

Canada (Canterbury)

A classy new badge for Canada Rugby is the highlight of this jersey. I like the striking red and the sublimated maple leaves, and Canterbury didn’t mess with the collar like they did for almost every other team they’ve provided for. I like this kit; it’s distinctly Canadian, doesn’t go over the top, and the Canterbury Slits aren’t that bad. Overall: B+

And yet. Red and black look so nice together. This is the one Canterbury jersey where the Canterbury Slits are a net positive, giving a nice splash of red just so the black doesn’t get too boring. The black is crisp and clean. This will look great on the pitch, and is one of my favorites of the World Cup. Overall: A

Pool C
England (Canterbury)

Like Ireland, Canterbury played it safe with England, but also infused a few of their own little designs. Unlike Ireland, I don’t like either of England’s little design choices. Like Ireland, they’re going with the mismatched collar, and like (almost) every other Canterbury team, England is subjected to the ugly Canterbury Slits. In 2003 and 2007, England included splashes of red on their white primary kit, and they won in ’03 and finished runners up in ’07. 2011 and 2015 featured entirely white kits where England lost in the quarter final and pool stage respectively. So maybe the red is for England to catch a little mid-aughts magic! I love the pattern around the sleeve cuffs. But god, I hate that fucking collar. Overall: C+

I really, really like this kit. It’s far and away from a traditional England look, but it still looks like England, if that makes any sense. I love that the Canterbury slits are practically invisible, and I love that England doesn’t have the mismatched collar. I love the heathering (or “marl”, as it’s officially called according to Canterbury). I love that the collar seamlessly flows into the torso of the jersey. I love that the Canterbury Slits are the same color as the rest of the kit. I love this kit. Overall: A+

France (Le Coq Sportif)

So here we have the French jersey. It’s blue for Les Bleus. It’s inoffensive but it’s also boring. The most notable thing is the new crest, featuring a sole red Gallic rooster (previous iterations had the rooster gold on a red background). Call me crazy, but it almost looks like the LCS logo at the center of the shirt. I’m not a conspiracy theorist. Overall: C

It’s…literally the same kit, but white. Totally boring. I want to poke it with a stick and tell it to do something. Overall: D-

Argentina (Nike)

Nike’s only entry in the RWC is a clean and classy look for Los Pumas. Who woulda thunk that Nike’s only RWC home kit is the most traditional rugby kit this cycle? From the traditional polo collar to the no-frills Argentine hoops to the socks, this kit is one of the best of 2019. Overall: A+

I guess Nike was saving all their creative energy for the change kit. And weirdly, I dig it! The colors work really well together. I wouldn’t have gone with the gradient, but Argentina’s flag does include the yellow Sol de Mayo and the yellow transitioning to sky blue does evoke sunshine. The seemingly iridescent Nike swoosh is my only qualm here; the purple coloring seems intentionally designed to draw your eye to it. I guess that’s the price you pay for having the Nike swoosh be so subtle and understated on the primary kit. Overall: A+

United States of America (Canterbury)

It’s bold, brash and absolutely American. I’m not even annoyed by the Canterbury slits or the mismatched collar. I love the red-and-white stripes on the sleeves, evoking the American flag. I love the sublimated stars on the shoulder yokes. I love this jersey. I just wish we could see the rest of the kit. Overall: A+

At first glance, I thought the blue upper-chest pattern was a sublimated diamond-tread. I feel like I shouldn’t like this jersey — it has all the issues every other Canterbury kit has — but nevertheless, I do. It doesn’t quite work for me on the same level as the primary jersey, but I still find it to be perfectly, absolutely American. Well done, Canterbury. Overall: A-

Tonga (Mizuno)

The ’Ikale Tahe have come out with a clean design, one of two Mizuno-manufactured kits this World Cup. I like the subtle stripes, which according to Mizuno are supposed to evoke a samurai’s armor, and I think this effect works much better than Japan’s “samurai helmet” nonsense, and much better on this Mizuno kit than Namibia’s. Nonetheless, I do have some issues with this kit; namely, the giant white armpit patches and the collar. I don’t see the need for the armpit patches. Perhaps they’re supposed to show off a Tongan design, as there does appear to be a Tongan design in there, but I think the design could’ve been just as legible on the red. And I have no idea what’s going on with that collar; it makes the kit look almost incomplete, somehow. Like an image that got corrupted on a harddrive. Overall: B-

Pool D
Australia (Asics)

I don’t hate the Asics Collar on the Wallabies jersey, mostly because the chevron-shaped cut-out is the same color as the rest of the collar (unlike on South Africa’s jerseys). It’s still too big, and it’s still obnoxious. The rest of the kit is nice enough. It’s a simple and understated look for the Aussies. Perhaps a bit too simple, if I’m honest. I criticized the All Blacks for putting out what is effectively a T-shirt, shouldn’t I do the same for this one? Overall: C

The Wallabies alternate kit is being described as their “Indigenous Kit”, a concept hugely popular in Australian rules football, the NRL and SuperRugby, Australia’s domestic leagues. It’s now making its debut on the global stage, and Asics and the Wallabies have teamed up for a beautiful kit that seamlessly blends the designs of Aboriginal Australians into what is unmistakably a Wallabies kit. Not even too bothered by the Asics collar here. Overall: A

Wales (Under Armour)

Another somewhat conservative showing for one of the Home Nations, as Under Armour has supplied Wales with a traditional look. I like the collar, though I do wish it had buttons and was slightly larger. I’m not wild about the sleeve cuffs not going around the entire sleeve, but I can live with it when the rest of the jersey is this classy. Overall: B+

So this was the best picture I could find of the Wales change strip without their ugly sponsor logo that they’re not even going to be wearing for the World Cup anyway. I’ve tried to avoid models and replica kits, but it was this pic or Isuzu. And I like this jersey! I like it a lot! I’m wild about halved and quartered kits in soccer, and I feel the same way about them in rugby. Its just wild enough not to make it boring, and simple enough that you wouldn’t mind actually wearing it like our model friend here. Overall: A

Georgia (Canterbury)

The Lelos come in with the single best crest in the Rugby World Cup, a traditional Georgian symbol called the Borjgali. Georgia’s traditional rugby color was a bold crimson, but the Lelos changed to a more unique maroon in 2017. I find this shade of maroon a bit too purplish for my liking, though, and the Canterbury Slits ruin an otherwise clean jersey. Credit for the gold leaf emblem on the back of the neck, but it’s not enough to salvage this kit. Overall: C-

I imagine the as-yet unreleased away kit will be a white version of this kit, as that’s what’s been happening with the smaller teams.

Fiji (ISC)

Oh man, that is one good-looking kit. From those amazing striped socks to the indigenous designs running down the sides and onto the sleeves and yoke, to the sleeve cuffs, I think I’m in love. Beautiful, this is one that I can’t wait to see take the pitch. Overall: A+

It’s the same deal, but in black for the away kit. In this rendering, you can actually see how detailed some of the Fijian designs, including onto the sleeve cuffs. Utterly incredible, makes me wonder why more teams don’t go with ISC. Overall: A+

Uruguay (Oxbridge)

Oxbridge is small South American manufacturer that also provides the Chile rugby team with their kits. Naturally, this is their only output for the 2019 RWC. And it’s great! I love the sublimated Sol de Mayo, the splash of yellow on the collar (which unlike the Asics Collar or Canterbury Collar isn’t intrusive), and the shade of blue. It’s a classic Uruguayan look with a modern twist. Overall: A

The away kit is plainer, but no less nice. The blue is a more royal shade, as opposed to the sky blue on Los Teros’ home kit. The white is classy and conservative, but not in a boring way. Again, the yellow in the collar is a nice splash of color. Fantastic — I expect big things from Oxbridge in the future. Overall: A

At the top of the post we have featured the official logo for this years tournament now as we finish we will share the next logo to feature in 2023 which will be held in France. If your team is featured in this years (2019) we hope they do well.