Poverty Bay players to debut new shirts in Napier

NEW STRIP: The Poverty Bay representative rugby strip being worn for the first time in the Ranfurly Shield challenge tomorrow incorporates the names and colours of the region’s clubs in the numbers on the back of the shirts. Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive Josh Willoughby says the players are excited by the new strip. They get to keep the jerseys after the game. Pictures supplied

Poverty Bay players will be sporting newly designed uniforms for their Ranfurly Shield challenge tomorrow and a lot of thought has been put into it.

The strips will still be the traditional scarlet in colour to stay true to the region but will also pay homage to the region.

Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union chief executive Josh Willoughby wanted a strip that encapsulated the culture and community of Gisborne rugby.

“The strip has a feather design, inspired by the weka, draped over the shoulders to form and represent a cloak or korowai,” Willoughby said.

A special feature of the shirts was the incorporation of the names and colours of the region's clubs in the numbers on the back of the shirts, he said.

The players were excited by the new strip.

“This year, the players get to keep the jerseys after the game,” Willoughby said.

The idea behind the jerseys was to encapsulate the community and the wider rugby culture, including Uawa, Tapuae and even Mahia, to recognise the importance of club rugby and the impact it has on the representative teams.

This weekend, they debut their new shirts against Hawke's Bay in Napier.

• See the main story on the challenge ahead for the Bay .