Page 40 - All Shapes & Zebras From Treorchy

In the cold light of day, a rugby jersey may be viewed as a simple shirt. Colourful and durable of course, but dig deeper, and you’ll find a clear realisation that they are so much more than just a garment.
As the decades advance and rugby evolves, so do the jerseys. Up until the early noughties, a sodden rugby jersey would be heavy enough to render the lighter backs helpless due to its dead weight. In such a dangerous sport, the traditional rugby shirt, with its heavy cotton thread, stiff collar and buttoned opening at the top, was a source of danger in itself.
In a tackle or maul, if a defender’s head was at a certain angle against the oncoming attacker, an injury akin to third degree burn would be inevitable as the shirt scoured against the defender’s face – “jersey burn” to give it a name. Perhaps more sickeningly, the old-style jerseys had a cruel way of punishing poor tackling technique; the tough cotton being strong enough to rip the fingernails off a would-be tackler, should their grip slip and a handful of shirt was grabbed in a final, desperate attempt to stop the attacker.
So as the years have rolled by, rugby jerseys have evolved and transformed into what they are today: pretty much skin-tight, aerodynamic shirts – much to the collective annoyance of the members of the grumbling front row when they pack down in readiness for a scrum.
As the seasons have ticked by, the designs and colours of amateur rugby kits have become something to behold. For an old romantic like myself, there’s still a lot to be said for traditional patterns such as coloured hoops, quartered shirts, or chevrons, all in honest colour palettes. However, nowadays, some clubs have begun to incorporate a whole myriad of wild and psychedelic designs into their shirts. Florescent pinks, purples, yellows, oranges – popular choices perhaps with the aim of dazzling opponents – and if you spend a moment searching websites for Sevens rugby tops you’ll find a shirt design to suit anyone and everyone.
38 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY