I’ve been wondering lately, who gives us what we, the fans, want – ‘us’ or ‘them’? ‘Them’, or ‘they’, are shadowing creatures who are difficult to pin down. They can be so-called ‘experts’. “Experts say this, or that”. But what qualifies an expert?
In a sporting context, they and them are I believe marketeers and lobby groups, who get the ear of sporting bodies, perhaps slip them a bundle under the table, in order to foist upon us, the unsuspecting public, something we might not actually like, or agree with.
Take the current rugby Wallabies jersey.
It looks more like a bicycle shirt. Now, I reckon bicycle shirts look great on bicycle riders. They are entirely appropriate and practical for cycling.
But they suck as a substitute for rugby jerseys. I’m actually surprised many rugby fans are okay with this. But then I wonder if they have bothered to give it much thought.
I’ve been clamouring for a return of the jersey collar, then I saw the latest version of the Waratahs jersey.
YUK! Make that double YUK!
If you’re going to treat the collar like some kind of stick-on, then I would rather they did away with it all together. Either we have the full collar, or nothing.
I also want to see a return to jerseys with some give. Yeah, I know why they did away with collars and ‘give’ in the jersey – so the tackler has nothing to grab onto.
Hell, it didn’t hurt anyone in the old days.
As for grabbing collars, it very rarely happened. Firstly, if the ref didn’t penalise the offender, then the offender sure knew the opposition was going to retaliate big-time.
In American football and baseball, the traditional outfits have been retained, despite all the latest technology being used in the fabric. Why is it so difficult for rugby to retain its traditional look.
Why this rush to embrace the future before we actually need to?
Finally, sponsorship on the national jersey. I appreciate Qantas’ involvement with rugby. I’m sure they’ve paid a lot of money for the privilege of having their name on the national jersey.
But it’s still wrong! Especially being inundated with the ‘Qantas’ Wallabies. Qantas doesn’t own the Wallabies, we, the fans, own the Wallabies. It belongs to the country, not some sponsor paying the highest bid at any one time.
Qantas can have its name across all the training gear, but not the playing strip. Sponsors can have their names on club and provincial jerseys, but not the national jersey.
If only the people in charge had the balls and morals to do the right thing!
Recommend this story.
The Turkey 10
The Turkey 10 teams have now been selected, as Wild Turkey Bourbon's sport sponsorship kicks into the next exciting phase.
Choose which side you're going to support and get in the running to win $2,500!
Simply visit Wild Turkey Australia on Facebook for your chance to win.
Find out more.
- Explore:
- Rugby Union, wallabies
February 10th 2010 @ 11:11am
Roger said | February 10th 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
Also agreed that English jumper looked great, but it seemed that English players didnt know what to do with the collar, e.g Wilkinson kept trying to fold it and it wouldnt fold.
February 10th 2010 @ 11:11am
Tom said | February 10th 2010 @ 11:11am | Report comment
The reason NFL jerseys remain the same is that the design is better suited to the sport than rugby jerseys – they are either tight fitting, or made of weak material that will simply tear if it is grabbed. Traditional or not, loose fitting, collared jerseys are not ideal for rugby, nor is cotton, as it absorbs moisture. However, I do think the American tradition of not having sponsorship on the jersey is a great idea.
February 10th 2010 @ 7:39pm
mitzter said | February 10th 2010 @ 7:39pm | Report comment
There is more to it than that. All equipment needs to follow their traditional look. There is very little room allowed for ‘helmet technology’. Their shorts and sleeves have a stipulated length – socks are meant to be pulled up (lots of fines from that one). Jerseys tucked in etc etc.
And who cares if loose fitting, cotton isn’t ideal for rugby as long as everyone does the same thing
February 10th 2010 @ 11:18am
Harry said | February 10th 2010 @ 11:18am | Report comment
These bicycle shirts first appeared on the British Lions tour jersey down here in 2001 with all the guff about being harder to grab and sliding off tackles. What drivel.
1005 agree. It surprises me that marketers don’t push harder to bring back traditionla jerseys. Look how many England sold last weekend, and look how many the ARU sold a couople of years back when they had that ligt blue and maroon stripes number for a one-off.
This years Queensland rugby union tem jersey is an abomination. I have emailed the QRU (as a member) that opinion/view as well.
February 10th 2010 @ 12:12pm
GM said | February 10th 2010 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Whenever organisations have a marketing department, the first thing they will change year in and year out is the jersey. It is an old EPL ploy to ensure fans have to put their hands in their pocket year in year out to keep up to date. At $160 a pop this is very lucrative.
However for he traditional fan (especially at international level) jumpers should not be updated. the english jumper was a fanatstic example of how you can improve the original product. Having a brand identity is what you learn in first year marketing, but if you change the brand every year, the supporters lose track of what you are about,
Anyone remember the Wallaby jumper from 2001 (i think) with the horrible green and white diamond? Whoever designed this should have lost their job.
February 10th 2010 @ 12:29pm
Cattledog said | February 10th 2010 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Jerseys will evolve…move on. When we see a clean jumper in a couple of years, we’ll know sheek’s won lotto!!
February 10th 2010 @ 8:57pm
sheek said | February 10th 2010 @ 8:57pm | Report comment
Cattledog,
The fabric can evolve, but not the traditional “look”.
“I’m as mad as hell & I’m not going to take it anymore – if you agree with me, honk your horn”!!!
February 10th 2010 @ 1:50pm
soapit said | February 10th 2010 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
couple of things,
* i was under the impression that collar grab tackle is actually illegal in rugby, the high tackle rule is more strict then in rugby league (anything above the shoulders i was told). if i am right, and i assume i am, then having a collar or not should be irrelevant. never gets policed tho. i think maybe it makes them look (and maybe feel) futuristic / modern which is a bit fashion and a bit of helping them feel like they have an edge when they run out.
* The all blacks don’t change their jersey because an all black shirt looks cool. wallabies have to change theirs constantly cos gold is not a cool colour and they’ve been searching the entire pro era for something which will look good on players but also on fans who buy it and think about waering it out on a weekend. i know if i see an all black jersey on a guy at a party it looks 1000% better then a guy in a wallaby jersey (despite the typical funny shaped head on the new zealander – dont shoot the messenger)
* The all blacks dont need to cave into sponsor pressure for space on the jersey because they are so dominant and have a great market share. england and aus rugby do not have a good market share and if they put their foot down on sponsors demands for jersey space the sponsor would then go for a different team in a different sport (AFL, RL in aus EPL in UK). aus rugby is just not in a strong enough position to start dictating terms to sponsors.
February 10th 2010 @ 2:37pm
allblackfan said | February 10th 2010 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
The ABs also found the right sponsorship fit. If I recall rightly, adidas’s marketing strategy is based on the minimalist approach; white on black.
February 10th 2010 @ 2:52pm
Hammer said | February 10th 2010 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
“The all blacks don’t change their jersey because an all black shirt looks cool” – there’s a little bit more to it than that
February 10th 2010 @ 3:34pm
Daniel J said | February 10th 2010 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
The current rugby jersey’s are designed to prevent jersey slingers and to make it harder for the tackler to grapple. I don’t see a problem with the practical implications of this but i agree that the old jersey’s look better. But i reckon the current jersey looks a hell of alot better than the last one which showed off their tits.
February 10th 2010 @ 4:22pm
sheek said | February 10th 2010 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
Well, maybe we’re getting somewhere…..
If more & more people speak up about the way our traditions are being trashed, we might be able to reverse a few things, instead of them foisted onto us.
Methinks Australia is too full at present of Gold Coast like shady, slimy carpetbaggers only interested in making a quick buck & leaving the mess for someone else to clean up.
February 10th 2010 @ 5:14pm
Cattledog said | February 10th 2010 @ 5:14pm | Report comment
Sheek, you just shot yourself in the foot! You were going well until that thoughtless comment concerning the Gold Coast. The fact that the new Wallaby jersey is made by KooGa, based on the Gold Coast and insinuating shady, slimy carpetbaggers making a quick buck verges on defaming what has grown to be an excellent family business kicking goals in many areas of product development and range.
Whilst you may not have been aware of this, and you in no way state this, you do insinuate it due to the thread’s theme and therefore could be linked so you can see how throw away comments like that can often lead to trouble. Stick with the facts and well considered argument as you have done in past posts. Unless of course you hold privileged info concerning KooGa’s dealings to back up such a statement.
February 10th 2010 @ 4:57pm
mattamkII said | February 10th 2010 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Anyone who think the new style Jerseys dont give you an advantage clearly hasnt played in or against a team fitted with them….
Get over it lads…Things change and while I think they look like shit and personally hate trotting out in my clubs ‘slim fit’ kit (for gut reasons) they do offer the odd % here and there.
Not only are they cooler, they hold less moisture and therefore weight….ever played in the heat with the old Cotton ones? they weight about 1.5kg by the end of a game!
And they do help you slip tackles you would have normally been caught in. I mentioned it on post recently that I stopped a try recently by making a tackle and my main anchor point was the V in the fellas old Skool CCC kit…if he had a modern top on he would have scored for sure.
February 10th 2010 @ 4:57pm
soapit said | February 10th 2010 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Hammer – a little bit more to it but not much. they have changed it subtley over time but not enough to make it non marketable.
yes there is history every other country has history so what is your theory why the all blacks have stuck to their basic concept while the others have tried lots more variation.
February 10th 2010 @ 5:13pm
Hammer said | February 10th 2010 @ 5:13pm | Report comment
It’s simple – pride and tradition – the NZRFU knew that if they even tried to sell the concept of altering the jersey they’d have been (will be) lynched … it’s got zero to do with how cool it looks or whether it goes well with a pair of jeans and all to do with what’s gone before ….
February 11th 2010 @ 9:37pm
katzilla said | February 11th 2010 @ 9:37pm | Report comment
It does look good with a pair of jeans though hammer you must admit