THE new Wales kits from Macron have been launched with the alternate jersey coloured green.
Wales fans have seen their side play in red through the ages, and since the first international in 1881.
Alternate colours from green, white, yellow and gold through to grey and black have always featured and are regularly used as the base colour for change kit, but the dominant colour for the ‘home’ jersey has always been red, for 130 years.
And, of course, the two-season 2021/23 kit will once again be red – ‘Wales red’ to be exact.
They need not worry in the valleys, mountains and hillsides of rugby’s spiritual home as ‘green’ is a reference to the environmentally friendly credentials of the Eco-Fabric used to make both the ‘home’ and ‘away’ kits.
The new jersey will be worn for the first time when Wales’ men face New Zealand in front of a full-house at Principality Stadium at the end of the month and the ‘alternate’ kit is set to feature against Fiji later in the Autumn Nations Series.
Wales Women will wear the new kit for the first time when they take on Japan at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday 7th November.
The jerseys retail at £70 for replica, in both men’s and women’s fits, £54 for child sizes and £98 authentic – with box set kits also available for babies and young children.
They are available now in WRU and Macron stores and online at store.wru.co.uk and in the section dedicated to the Welsh national team on macron.com, alongside more of the exclusive clothing and merchandising Macron produces for the WRU.
“It will come as no surprise to anyone that Wales will play primarily in red, we always have and we always will, and we are particularly pleased with this new ‘Welsh red’ kit from Macron,” said WRU commercial and legal director, Rhodri Lewis.
“But the green credentials of the new Eco-Fabric used in production by Macron are also particularly impressive and deserve top billing when it comes to launching our new two-year kits.
“We are delighted to join the likes of Lazio football club and the Scottish national side in using these new eco-sustainable fabrics.
“Our black alternate kits have been some of our most popular amongst supporters and we know these jerseys will prove so once again.
“We are hugely grateful to Macron for their efforts and dedication throughout the design and manufacturing process; we are delighted with the outcome.”
The new jersey features sophisticated and elegant graphics as well as a strong message of sustainability and respect for the environment, given its Eco-Fabric composition – polyester made in 100% recycled plastic, certified by the Global Recycled Standard.
These are ‘Green souled’ shirts made with environmental protection in mind, with thirteen recycled 1Litre plastic bottles going into the production of each jersey.
The new ‘home’ jersey is ‘Wales red’ and boasts a V-neck with white borders, which are also applied to the sleeves.
Another ‘V’ is formed on the chest, in lighter red sublimation print, with the Welsh coat of arms applied to the chest, heart-side, and the Macron Hero logo embroidered in white, on the right.
The Welsh word ‘Anrhydedd’, meaning ‘Honour’, features in embossed graphics on the back of the neck.
White shorts and dark green socks complete the new ‘home’ kit, with red piping and side stripes with the same graphic design inside the shorts.
“Creating a new match kit is always a fascinating process, and the participation and passion of the WRU staff have made it even more exciting,” said Ross Cook, Sr Sports Marketing Manager of Macron. “The result is once again one of great impact, and we are sure that players and fans will wear their colours with great pride.
“This year’s match kits also carry an important message of sustainability and respect for the environment, a choice and message to which we are strongly committed.
“We are lucky to have found in the Welsh Rugby Union a sensitive partner keen to fully embrace our green philosophy”.
The ‘Away’ version of the jersey is black with a V-neck with dark green borders and white details. This shirt features sublimation-printed tone-on-tone graphics composed of irregular geometric figures on both the front and back.
The Welsh word ‘Angerdd’, meaning ‘Passion’, is embossed on the back of the neck and the Macron Hero logo is embroidered in white beside the WRU’s three feathers. Dark green shorts and white socks complete the ‘Away’ kit, with black sidebands and white detailing on the shorts and a dark green top hem to the socks.
Both jerseys have a Body Fit and the fabrics used are Eco-Armevo and Eco-Bodytex, which ensure lightness, breathability, and maximum resistance.
