England’s Rugby team will wear an All Black rugby kit when they start their 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign against Argentina in New Zealand on September the 10th.
England have been given permission to wear an “away” strip for their opening pool match in Dunedin by the New Zealand Rugby Union but if England meet the All Blacks then England will wear white.
The kit features jet black shorts and shorts with no other colour except for the Red Rose badge.
The All Black kit will be England’s official away kit but will be worn for their three World Cup warm-up matches in August and for the Rugby World Cup opener.
There is also the possibility of England wearing the kit later in the tournament depending on how far England progress.
In 2010 England played in a Grey kit which was officially called “anthracite” and it seems that this kit was a stepping stone to the All Black kit.
In 2009 England wore a purple away kit and in 2007 the away kit was red.
England Team kit sponsors Nike will unveil the kit on August the 1st.
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Meanwhile….
England’s new “All Black” kit which will be worn in New Zealand at the world cup and during their August World cup warm up matches has already started ruffling feathers in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s Minister John Key has called England a bunch of “wannabees” after plans were revealed about the kit which will be launched by Nike on August the 1st.
“I think it’s a bunch of wannabes actually, there’s only one team that wears black with pride and that’s the All Blacks,” Prime Minister John Key told 3 News.
Aside from the Red rose the kit will be all black but will have ancient Maori symbols and decorations in celebration of the rugby world cup and Professor Ranginui Walker who is an All Black supporter and Maori affairs political commentator says the designs should be protected so that teams like England can’t use them.
“One would think that Maori designs should have a protection of some kind because it’s an intellectual property design,” Walker says.
“Of all the colours in the rainbow, why would they choose the colour of the host nation?” NZ commentator Keith Quinn said in the Dominion Post.
“They are thumbing their noses at a New Zealand tradition. It’s bizarre.”
Quinn admitted that the move could be profitable for England as it could lead to increased England jersey sales but added that it could also be unpopular with All Blacks fans.
“I don’t think they (fans) will throw things, but they will be scornful of England coming into our territory wearing black.”
All Black Captain Richie McCaw however was very relaxed about the jet black kit and said, “People play games I suppose about why they are doing these things, but not a biggie really,” said McCaw.
Rugby NZ 2011 CEO Martin Sneddon said that New Zealanders and the All Blacks should see it as a compliment.
“The All Blacks should take it as a compliment to them, ourselves, as a country believe in the power of the jersey, the power of the black, and maybe that is what England is trying to get their hands on,” said Snedden.