Hefty price tag for All Blacks supporters' gear

The cost of kitting up for the upcoming Lions tour will be enough to make many fans see red.

Outfitting yourself and your family in the latest All Blacks gear is an expensive exercise, with adult-size replica jerseys retailing for between $130 and $160. Outfitting children isn't much cheaper, with adidas All Blacks jerseys for 8- to 16-year-olds selling for around $110.

Children's All Blacks caps are $13 to $16. The socks cost $25, shorts, $70, Gilbert match ball $120 - that's a grand total of $341. Oh, and the flag costs $7. Then there're the scarf and beanie, which will set you back around $40 each.

A limited number of special-edition Lions tour jerseys are being released ahead of the tour which kicks off next month. But they come at a cost, a whopping $250.
Fifteen thousand of the half-black and half-red adidas jerseys will be available worldwide next month, with interest in the product strong according to online retailer for the NZRU, Champions of the World.

Retail director Rob Densem said the cost set by the NZRU was justified. "We've had very strong interest in them. They won't be available in New Zealand again for another 12 years," said Mr Densem, who expected the jerseys to be snapped up mainly by collectors.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY