New Zealand sides unveil their Super Rugby jerseys

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The New Zealand Super Rugby franchises will take to the field in 2020 with entirely new kits, with all five sides having revealed their new home jerseys for the 2020 season over the weekend.

The Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders have used the same home and away strips for the last two years but will release fresh designs just in time for Christmas.

👀 REVEALED! Check out the new @adidas #SuperRugby jerseys for the 2020 season!

BUY NOW 👉🏽 https://t.co/Gr4zy7Twiw pic.twitter.com/72dHmGrMDd

— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) November 30, 2019

The Blues jersey, with a shattered imprint, has been designed to show the “seam of talent” that populates the region. Like the previous kit, the new shirt features a mix of dark and light blue shades – though it is certainly darker as a whole than its previous iteration.

Our 2020 Jersey has been designed to represent and acknowledge the “seam of talent” that runs deep within the Blues region. A region that produces a third of all registered rugby players in New Zealand.

Available soon from the Blues online store!#WhateverItTakes #BluesAllDay pic.twitter.com/82KHAaVRkT

— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) November 30, 2019

The Chiefs jersey, as has become tradition, features a range of Maori imagery and is inspired by the Maori Gods.

 

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2020 Gallagher Chiefs Home & Training Jerseys available now ⠀ #ChiefsCountry

A post shared by Chiefs Rugby (@chiefsrugby) on Nov 30, 2019 at 11:20am PST

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The Hurricanes have taken a more scientific approach to their kit, which displays the actual wind readings from Wellington from throughout the 2016 season – when the Hurricanes won the Super Rugby title.

 

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2020 Gallagher Chiefs Home & Training Jerseys available now ⠀ #ChiefsCountry

A post shared by Chiefs Rugby (@chiefsrugby) on Nov 30, 2019 at 11:20am PST

Despite unveiling a new logo earlier this week, the Crusaders jersey will just feature the stylised Crusaders font in place of the new emblem. The pattern on the shirt itself symbolises the innovation that is currently occurring in Christchurch, which is still re-building from the 2011 earthquakes.

 

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We are proud and excited to announce @garycockram_hyundai and @hyundainz as Principal Partner and on the front of our jersey next season! How good does this new jersey look?! To win one of these brand new jerseys (yes, signed by Richie!) enter at clubrooms.co.nz. Read more about our Hyundai partnership at crusaders.co.nz/news

A post shared by Crusaders (@crusadersrugbyteam) on Nov 30, 2019 at 12:00pm PST

Finally, the Highlanders new kit is decorated with a houndstooth pattern but otherwise remains very visually similar to the previous jersey.

 

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REVEALED • Your 2020 Pulse Energy Highlanders Home Jersey 💥 #WhereExcitementHappens

A post shared by Pulse Energy Highlanders (@highlandersteam) on Nov 30, 2019 at 11:56am PST

New away strips are also on the cards for all five sides, however these won’t be unveiled until closer to the season’s kick-off in late January.

Four of New Zealand’s franchises will be in action over the opening round of the 2020 season, with the Blues hosting the Chiefs in the opening match of the tournament on Friday,  January 31, the Crusaders hosting the Waratahs in Nelson a day later and the Hurricanes starting out in Cape Town against the Stormers.