BRISTOL Rugby have confirmed that the home shirt they will wear during the new season will differ to the one they wore at this week’s kit launch and which prompted such a backlash from fans.
Bristol’s players donned a version of their new home shirts, manufactured by ZAR-Z Sports, for Tuesday’s team photograph and season launch at Ashton Court Mansion.
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The kit revealed earlier this week
But an overwhelmingly negative reaction from supporters – who vented their dismay at several aspects of the kit design – has prompted the club to issue a statement, in which they make clear that the actual shirts will differ to those worn by the players this week.
The Post understands that the first club officials saw of the new home shirts since agreeing to the design was when they arrived shortly before the team photograph.
The shirts have since received almost universal criticism from supporters, mainly over the bold, repeated number ’125′, included to mark the 125th anniversary of the club’s formation.
“Bristol Rugby have confirmed that the home jerseys will be a more traditional, darker blue than that revealed on Tuesday,” the club said in the statement.
“As a result, the first team will play in the new away kit during the pre-season campaign.
The actual designs for the special edition home strip include a much darker, subtle, ghosted ’125′, while the shirt retains the traditional ‘Bristol blue’ colour.
“Both the home and away jerseys feature the Memorial Gates with inscription and the poppy, honouring those who have represented the club since 1888, taking into account feedback from supporters.”
The Post revealed yesterday that the club were in talks with ZAR-X Sports over the shirt design – and the club statement added: “Bristol Rugby are working with kit supplier ZAR-X Sports to ensure the actual jersey will be a more traditional blue. Replicas will be available before the start of the regular season.”
The club’s chief executive, Steve Gorvett, explained how a manufacturing oversight had caused the different shirts to appear for this week’s launch – but said he expects a different reaction to the actual home shirts.
“The launch kit was a problem due to a manufacturing oversight that was out of all our control, but we are doing everything we can – alongside ZAR-X – to ensure that the correct, darker-designed shirt is delivered prior to the new campaign,” he said.
“We’re confident that supporters will feel very positive about the original kit designs that we agreed upon, and we look forward to seeing the players in traditional Bristol blue at the Memorial Stadium.”
As a result of the mix-up, Bristol will be in their white away kit for tomorrow’s opening pre-season friendly at Aviva Premiership side Bath – a match coach Sean Holley is relishing.
“I think we’re keen to find out where we are and what we’ve got,” said Holley. “It’s still part of the training phase, to be honest, and I think Andy (Robinson, director of rugby) and I have a similar philosophy in terms of pre-season.
“Some teams like to play five or six games, but I’d rather just play one or two. There are enough games in the regular season. So it is about having a look at combinations, having a look at players, plus a conditioning element for some of the boys who have been maybe a little bit injured in pre-season.
“The Bath-Bristol aspect is an added flavour for the spectator – but for us it’s purely part of the process to get to the start of that competitive season. After Saturday, we’ll review, then move on to the Exeter game, before the final little run-out against Clifton to hopefully put us in position for the Cornish Pirates game on September 15.”
Harlequins, meanwhile, have signed former England wing Paul Sackey after Ross Chisholm and Ollie Lindsay-Hague, who both suffered long-term injuries in the pool stages of the JP Morgan Premiership Sevens.
Home jerseys will be a darker blue, say Bristol Rugby
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