KEY POINTS:
The Warehouse is in the sin bin after the Waikato Rugby Union discovered stores selling "counterfeit" Mooloo scarves.
The red, yellow and black colours have been worn by Waikato since 1929 and were trademarked in 1995.
Union marketing manager Pat Mellsop said The Warehouse had not been aware of the trademark until the union blew the whistle on them.
"They were pretty good, they took them down. They were not trying to be deceptive, obviously they thought it was kosher."
Mr Mellsop said he was unaware of any other major rugby union in the country, apart from the All Blacks, holding a similar trademark.
"We've got the advantage of three colours which makes it easier. It's so distinctive. It's a bit tougher (for teams) with only two colours." The Warehouse was not the first to sell knock-off supporters gear.
Mr Mellsop said it was a regular occurrence, but cash from official merchandise sales went to the union and back into rugby.
"It's a pretty important income. Which is why we wanted to warn people, particularly now that we are the Ranfurly Shield holders: Don't try to make money off our back and not put it back into rugby because you can't have the defence now that you are unaware."
Mr Mellsop said fans had already snapped up 16,000 tickets for Waikato's first shield defence against Canterbury this weekend and supporters gear was flying out of official retailers' doors.
The Warehouse said it had only sold a few scarves.
