The 2024 Six Nations match between Ireland and Wales will be the last time the two countries play in their traditional kit colours.
From now on, away teams will be required to wear alternative kits as green and red matches will be played for the benefit of colour-blind supporters.
The green and red combination is particularly problematic for color-blind fans and is set to resurface next week when the two countries meet in Dublin. But this is going to be the last time this happens.
World Rugby Change Kit Regulations
World Rugby’s regulations will come into force in January next year and are aimed at supporting people with color blindness (CVD).
There has been some resistance to the move from rugby governing bodies, with South Africa, Australia and New Zealand heavily condemning the move.
However, the Six Nations will adopt new rules that will require all teams to avoid kit collisions which could have a negative impact on spectators suffering from CVD and television viewers.
Wales’ change kit this season is black, but that would not have avoided problems at the Aviva Stadium next weekend, and the same will likely be true of the green kits they have worn in the past. This could potentially see the Welsh side add another kit color in the coming years.
For matches during the 2025 season, as we saw in the second leg of the Six Nations, the new guidelines for the Six Nations mean that away teams will also wear alternative kits, so Ireland will have to wear a change kit against Wales in Cardiff. (probably white). When France wore change jerseys against Scotland.
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“You need to think laterally.”
Traditionally in rugby, the home team wore a changing kit, but the Six Nations has recently moved away from that tradition.
Wales Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney said: “Different kit colors change the way we watch the game and I completely sympathize with those whose enjoyment of the game is affected as a result.” Told.
“The current replacement kit is black, but more recently green has been used. Neither of these examples is particularly helpful for this problem. Moreover, Welsh red is not only traditional, but culturally It is also a department.
“But there are other ways to get around the problem, and kits with significantly different designs can also help get around the problem.
“We need to think laterally about how we can overcome this issue for next year, perhaps through more creative use of colors, but also in the design of our kits.
“For example, if one team is in check and the other team is in check, color becomes completely irrelevant, but we are seriously thinking about a solution that works for everyone.
“We recognize that this is a serious issue for many of our fans, and we take this matter very seriously ourselves.
“We are disappointed that we have not reached a solution that will fit the whole season, but we can confirm that we are fully committed to fixing it in the next kit cycle.”
Approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women worldwide suffer from color blindness (CVD). World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont also suffers from CVD.
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