From the classic shirts worn by the greats of the 1970s to today, we bring you the best Wales rugby kits!
When you see a red rugby shirt, the first team that comes to mind is likely Wales. The principality has become synonymous with the colour, and some of the greatest players in the history of the game have worn the famous shirt with feathers on the chest.
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The Welsh rugby kit has remained unchanged over the years, with generations of players wearing the classic kit, from Cliff Morgan and Gareth Edwards to Jonathan Davies and Ieuan Evans. However, since the ’90s the shirt has gone through numerous updates, including new color schemes, different cuts and collars, and different sponsors. Some were great, others were more… Forgotten.
This guide to the best Wales rugby jerseys shows how the red shirt has evolved from 1990 to the present. We’ve picked the best (and worst) to showcase the sports fashion that has marked the highs and lows of our proud rugby nation.
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2024 to present
Wales are yet to taste victory in their latest red kit (Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images)
The latest Wales rugby jersey released for the 2024 Autumn Nations series continues Macron’s tradition of simple yet effective design. This piece borrows heavily from the 2020 release, but adds a subtle fiery pattern to the sleeves, ditches the green trim, and replaces the V-neck collar with an asymmetrical round-neck design. Unfortunately, the Welsh men’s current record-breaking losing streak means they have never won while wearing this kit.
Editor’s Verdict: Wales hasn’t had much luck so far and the fire design is a bit tricky, but it’s another solid design from Macron. 7/10
Wales Men’s Home Shirt 2024 | £79 £70
You can currently save £9 (over 12%) on the current Macron Wales home shirt at Sports Direct.
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Wales’ white away strip will now come in handy. Now they have to change against Ireland. (Johan Rynners – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Wales has experimented with a variety of colors for their changing strips over the years, with green, black and even yellow designs all part of their back catalogue. However, newer versions choose white. This would be a wise choice given new World Rugby rules (introduced for colour-blind fans) which stipulate that Wales and Ireland can no longer play each other in their traditional red and green kits.
Editor’s Verdict: It’s a smart twist on traditional Welsh colors that will benefit many colorblind viewers. 8/10
Wales Women’s Away Kit 2024 | £79 £70
You can also get £9 off the current Macron Wales away shirt at Sports Direct.
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Ranking of the best Wales rugby jerseys
1990
There’s a reason this classic design hasn’t changed much over the decades (Mark Leech/Getty Images)
Aside from a few notable outliers, such as France’s famous Le Coq Sportif and Adidas kits, international rugby shirts tended to change little over the decades until the ’90s.
Luckily, there is little that can be done to enhance the minimalistic elegance of the old-school Wales kit. Shirts worn by the likes of Gareth Edwards, Barry John and JPR Williams remain timeless.
Editor’s Verdict: You can feature all the design trappings and technical features in the world, but sometimes a plain red rugby jersey with a white collar provides all you need. 10/10
1992
Who knew a green collar would look so good on a red shirt? (Mark Rich/Getty Images)
England modernized their kit for the 1991 World Cup, and Wales followed suit in the subsequent Five Nations. The Cotton Traders’ most radical departure from traditional design was the green collar, but there was a “dragon” motif on the right sleeve, green flashes on the shorts, and a simplified version of the Prince of Wales feather. Even after 30 years, not much has changed.
Wales gave their kit a slight update two years later by adding white and green bands to the sleeves.
Editor’s Verdict: The green collar may not have been an obvious choice, but it works brilliantly here as a simple yet effective update to the classic Wales kit. 8/10
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1995
The white bands on the sleeves do little to enhance the traditional design. (JEAN-PIERRE MULLER/AFP via Getty Images)
By the mid-90s, rugby realized that it could cut out a chunk of the football world and make money with regular kit updates. The Wales national team went to the 1995 World Cup wearing a design that restored the white collar and plain shorts that had been used for a long time and added thin white bands to the sleeves.
Editor’s Verdict: The white band does little to enhance this reinterpretation of the classic Wales shirt in most respects. 5/10
2000
Can I have it? ~ degrees Is there a lot of red in a Wales shirt? (Mark Rich/Getty Images)
Wales began a long-term partnership with Reebok in 1996, but their early kit designs are hardly worth mentioning here. It was essentially an original shirt with Reebok branding, a red flash on the collar and (usually) green socks.
However, by the time the convention opened in the fall of 2000, manufacturers had already little The all-red collar and white piping on the shirt make it a bit more adventurous. Wales also received their first shirt sponsor in the form of telecommunications company Redstone.
Editor’s Verdict: It may seem impossible for a Wales shirt to have too much red, but this shirt certainly does. 6/10
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2002
Red and black are an irresistible combination (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
Reebok switched to black and red and the result was one of the best Wales rugby kits of all time. The decision to embrace the dark side gives the vintage Wales shirt a classy, minimalist feel, while the black shorts evoke nostalgia for the Great Wales days of the 70s.
Editor’s Verdict: Pure class – it’s a shame Wales haven’t used this kit for long. 9/10
2003
There’s no shortage of ideas in this Wales rugby kit, but can they all work together? (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Reebok made a truly radical appearance for Wales’ exciting 2003 World Cup campaign. I chose Arsenal-style white (with green accents) for the grandfather collar and sleeves. Unfortunately they don’t go well with black shorts. Or it just doesn’t fit in well with other aspects of this crowded design.
Editor’s Verdict: Each of the new design elements looks good on its own, but when used together it’s a bit confusing. 5/10
2005
The most open neck collar of any 2005 Grand Slam kit (John Gichigi/Getty Images)
The white shorts are back for Wales’ first Grand Slam since 1978. In keeping with the general trend in rugby, the shirt was much tighter than previous shirts, but the biggest talking point was its strangeness. very Open neck collar – what on earth were the designers thinking? Cardiff brewery Brains has taken over shirt sponsorship duties.
Editor’s Verdict: The Grand Slam Association means this kit has good memories for Welsh fans, but it’s not close to the best. 6/10
2006
I wouldn’t be surprised if Wales wear this shirt in next year’s Six Nations (David Rogers/Getty Images)
Perhaps the first Welsh design to look like a modern rugby shirt. Apart from briefly using a different kit for the ill-fated 2007 World Cup campaign, Wales stuck with this design until Warren Gatland’s famous 2008 Grand Slam. But by then I had ditched the numbers on my sleeves.
Editor’s Verdict: A glimpse into the future, and nothing will seem out of the ordinary in today’s Principality Stadium. 7/10
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2008
Under Armour’s first Wales rugby kit Father Ted (Duif du Toit/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
American sportswear giant Under Armor took over the Wales kit deal in 2008, a deal that lasted more than a decade. The green socks look great, but the white flash on the shirt is too fussy, and the thick white crewneck collar looks like something a pastor would wear.
Editor’s Verdict: In terms of functionality rather than style, Under Armour’s first effort is far from the best. 5/10
2010
Are you annoyed that George North had to wear that shirt? (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
We’re going to go to the extreme and suggest that this is the worst Welsh rugby kit of all time. The white flash on the sleeves certainly seemed to give it another Arsenal vibe, but it looked unfinished, as did the triangles on the sides. In short, it was a jumble of half-hearted ideas, but fortunately it didn’t last long.
Editor’s Verdict: It’s a design that tries too hard to stand out and doesn’t feel like a Wales shirt. 4/10
2011
Do you know what the white block under the collar is? Write your answer on a postcard… (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Much of the kit Wales wore as they reached the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup is excellent. The white flash on the sides is stylish, and the graph paper-like fabric adds a little interest to the shorts. Unfortunately the look is discolored by the huge white block on the front of the collar. We still don’t know why it’s there.
Editor’s Verdict: Another example of a decent shirt being ruined by a very strange design element. 6/10
2013
Those red shorts are a break from tradition, but the Liverpool look is fine. (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Black is back with another memorable kit. Purists might have questioned the unconventional red shorts. Was the designer a Liverpool fan? – but the black and gray accents on the shirt and shorts are a fantastic addition. This is probably the first great kit of Under Armour’s tenure.
Editor’s Verdict: It’s a break with tradition, but it works. 8/10
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2015
“Oxblood” and “Welsh gold” are much better than they sound on paper (Ben Radford/Corbis via Getty Images)
Ignore the nonsense in press releases about “oxblood” details on the shoulders referencing the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct or “Welsh gold” a nod to the precious metal once discovered in Welsh mines. In every other way, Under Armor stands out in the market with this luxurious design.
Editor’s Verdict: A new color scheme delivers one of the best Wales rugby shirts of all time. 9/10
2020
Macron’s first Wales rugby shirt is the Belter. (Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Under Armor released a few more kits before parting ways with Wales in 2020. In fact, due to the Six Nations being suspended that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wales finished the tournament with a different kit to the one they started with. Macron’s debut shirt had a belter style, with smart green trim accenting the classic design.
Editor’s Verdict: Macron got off to a good start. 8/10
2023
You can almost imagine wearing this Wales rugby shirt on a night out (Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Macron went back to basics for the 2023 World Cup. Wearing a modern shirt that looks like a throwback to the 20th century, except of course it’s a fairly tight cut. A faux collar gives this Wales rugby jersey a retro polo feel, while subtle white bands add liveliness to the sleeves.
Editor’s Verdict: It’s as stylish as a modern rugby kit. 9/10
