England unveils black World Cup strip

England's new jersey was unveiled overnight. Photo / England Rugby Union

The England Rugby Union has unveiled their new change strip - and it's all black.

The side's Nike home and away kits were revealed overnight - traditional white shirts, shorts and socks for their home game and an entirely black kit - mimicking New Zealand's All Blacks - for games where their white strip clashes with their opposition.


The Martin Johnson-led side will run out in the black strip for their opening World Cup game against Argentina, as their white strip clashes with the Pumas blue and white kit.

Although England will go back to white for their games against Georgia, Romania and Scotland, the black kit could return in later rounds.

When the suggestion first arose last month the English would run out against the Argentineans in black, Prime Minister John Key called the English "a bunch of wannabes", while All Black legend Jonah Lomu told BBC Sport it "disrespected the legacy" of past England teams.

"I am one of those people who was brought up on the history of rugby, watching the great players of the past who have worn the England shirt and also the All Blacks'," he said last month.

"I will find it pretty weird to look across the paddock and see them run out not wearing that famous white uniform."

However England's flanker Tom Wood did not understand the fuss.

"It has got the red rose on it and that is all that matters to us," Wood told the Guardian.

He said it should not concern the All Blacks themselves.

"It is a change kit for the Argentina game, who play in white, so it is necessary. The All Blacks have worn white as their change kit and we haven't said anything about that. Perhaps the media will make something of it, but we like it. It looks good and it is good to wear."

The English will first run out in the new kit on Saturday in a World Cup warm-up against Wales at Twickenham in London.