England unveil 3D jersey

 

England put the unveiling of the innovative England jersey in the hands of their most committed supporters, with more than 3,600 fans publishing the exclusive first image of the new shirt across their Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr feeds.

 

England captain Chris Robshaw was then joined by his teammates to officially reveal the team kit to the assembled media at Twickenham Stadium, before meeting with a number of core fans.

 

The new shirt features a range of innovations that have been developed through more than 220 hours of testing and over 250,000 miles of travel to improve both the look, feel and performance of the kit.

 

The rose symbolises the connection between the fans and the players and between former internationals who have worn the shirt and those who wear it now. In a striking innovative twist the rose has been 3D injection moulded, developed through rapid prototyping technology to standout in a way that merits the significance of the rose for players and fans alike. The shirt also features contoured 'ball deadening' grip placement to complement the players’ physique

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On the pitch, players will benefit from a range of innovations, including reduced fabrication weight and minimising moisture absorption for England's most lightweight kit ever. The super-enhanced fit technology, developed through position-specific 3D body-mapping supports the varied physiques of the modern rugby player. The shirt also includes adaptive fabrication, with dynamic heat management properties ensuring a constant temperature is maintained in any climate to drive the ultimate performance.

 

The traditional yet innovative loop collar design has been integrated within the shirt. The 360° loop bound neckline has evolved to withstand every physicality of the game, providing resistance to challenges with enhanced elasticity and shape retention.

 

Speaking about the new shirt at the Twickenham Stadium launch, England head coach Stuart Lancaster said: "Every player in the squad takes enormous pride in pulling on the England shirt. As a group, we talk about the unbreakable bond of the rose between former, current and future players and for this symbol to be emphasised in 3D form is a key feature. 

 

"We are grateful for the support of the fans and in the year of a home World Cup the power of the nation behind us can be the difference. It is great that it was the supporters who launched the shirt and that they have been central to the day.

 

A specially selected group of England supporters were invited to be in attendance at the shirt unveil rewarding those that had demonstrated their commitment to the rose by signing up to pre-order their new England World Cup jersey before the design had been revealed.