Springboks unveil commemorative jersey for 2021 British and Irish Lions tour

Asics unveiled the unique Springbok jersey for next year’s tour to South Africa of the British and Irish Lions on Friday, featuring a vintage colourway and special commemorative 3D logo, among other features.

The world champions will don a unique commemorative jersey when they face the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in three tests on home turf next year in the much-anticipated Lions series. 

“Lions tours come around only every 12 years, so we thought it appropriate to create a jersey that is indisputably unique,” SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux said.

“It will be worn by the team on only three occasions and we wanted to make it memorable and special for the players and hopefully this unique rendering of Springbok green – in conjunction with the badge – will do exactly that.” 

The 2021 tour will be 14th time the British and Irish Lions have visited South Africa and Asics wanted to celebrate this rich history by putting a very classic spin on the most modern jersey.

“A British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa is a hugely significant event for both players and supporters, as it takes place only every 12 years or so,” Asics South Africa said.

“That kind of rarity bring with it a special responsibility when creating a jersey and we wanted the players and the fans to get goosebumps every time they pull that jersey over their heads.”

In that vein, the new jersey blends the traditions of garment manufacture, with the latest in performance garment design and materials.

Undoubtedly the new jersey’s most distinguishing feature, is its unique colourway. According to Asics, colour-matching and colour-dying was historically not the precise art it is today. Very often when the team took the field from one game to the next, the jerseys didn’t look the same and potentially, often showed a different shade of green.

“You get green by mixing blue and yellow together and so a lot of the time when these guys ran out, their jerseys appeared to have a slight blue undertone,” added Asics South Africa.

“It’s still green, of course, but slightly bluer than some of the modern green-and-gold incarnations. This jersey captures that essence.”

 Apart from the colourway, the new jersey retains the classic gold collar and features an enlarged crest – much like on rugby jerseys of old – detailed by a 3D logo as seen on many Champions League football club kits.

The Lions series begins on 3 July, 2021 when the Lions face the Stormers in Cape Town. Three weeks later the new jersey will be worn for the first time by the Springboks at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

- SA Rugby