English Rugby Football Union jersey colour amidst resentment from New Zealand
New Zealand’s Prime minister, John Key, has branded England as “a bunch of wannabes” for copying their national rugby team All Blacks’ kit which has been donned by the Kiwi squad since 1884.
This surprising colour change is not going down well with New Zealanders because it is being perceived as the England trying to trespass into the All Blacks’ territory.
While criticising England’s colour change, Key added, “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.”
This reaction was received as England announced on Friday, July 15, that England will be wearing black uniforms for their first pool match against Argentina, in Dunedin, on September 10 due to the colour clash with the Pumas, who will be wearing white and
light blue.
However, it has been further revealed that England will also be wearing it during the practice matches that are lined-up in August. The kit’s inauguration will be on August 6 when England will play against Wales in Twickenham.
According to the English Rugby Football Union (RFU), an agreement has been reached between England and the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 host- New Zealand that England will wear their white kit in their matches against the All Blacks.
Richie McCaw, the skipper of the All Blacks, has shown his disinterest in this colour change hype which is creating wave. He said that his focus will still be on the real game which is going to be played on the field. He thinks the colour controversy is
“not a biggie”.
Martin Sneddon, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive, thinks that the change made by the England squad is to achieve what All Blacks have as performers in the rugby world. He added, “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.”
According to RFU officials this change will be unveiled on August 1 and is not intended to provoke ill feelings from New Zealand. According to the officials the change is only due to the clash of colours with the Pumas. For the remaining encounters within
the tournament, England will be reverting back to its traditional white kit.
However, it is felt that the black colour change will be well received by England’s fan base, as it was when England went ahead with the purple and anthracite colour change in 2009 and 2010.
Nonetheless, there is a mix of reactions pouring in from New Zealanders which vary in their degree of resentment.
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