Rugby: Highlanders to play in green?

The Highlanders will launch a new strip on Monday. Photo / Getty Images

The Highlanders have confirmed they are looking at changing the colour of their playing strip.

Although general manager Roger Clark remained tight-lipped about the change yesterday, he did confirm a major announcement would be made by the Highlanders on Monday.

He declined to give further details, apart from saying the announcement would concern the playing strip.

The new jersey is believed to be light green, the Otago Daily Times reports.

The Highlanders have had many changes of jersey design since they started in 1996, but have always stuck with the basic colours of blue, gold and maroon.

Those colours are based on the playing colours of the three base provincial unions: Otago, Southland and North Otago.

But as the franchises and unions drifted apart, with Otago and the Highlanders officially splitting roles last year, the franchise is seen by many as being totally separate from the provinces.

The franchise has undergone major change over the past year, with a new coaching team, new management and new offices, away from Carisbrook.

It is also due to move to the Forsyth Barr Stadium next season.

So a new playing jersey may just be an extension of the new "Highlanders", although how popular it would be with supporters in the South is questionable.

Coach Jamie Joseph has often talked of building a new Highlanders culture and how the team is not an extension of Otago or Southland.

The team is also no longer made up solely of players from the Southern unions.

Fourteen players named in the 32-man squad for the 2011 season were from outside the Highlanders' region, with just six players from Otago.

Clothing company Adidas, and the New Zealand Rugby Union, are also involved in the change.

No other franchises are believed to be changing their colours.

The Highlanders play the Lions at Carisbrook tomorrow night for the penultimate time at the ground, and will be wearing their standard home strip.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES