Rugby World Cup referee shirts unveiled

World Rugby and Macron have unveiled the designs of the referee, AR and sideline officials’ shirts to be worn at Rugby World Cup 2023.

There are three distinctive designs which will be used across rugby’s showcase competition. The shirts, Macron claim, combine their latest technological advancements with a material made entirely from recycled plastic.

They feature the squiggle which is common to the RWC23 brand, but the base colours have been chosen with visual deficiency spectators in mind. The three choices – white, yellow and navy blue (worn with navy blue shorts and socks) – have been specifically chosen to avoid kit clashes between any of the three sets of kit on the field. This follows World Rugby’s stated commitment to colour blind inclusivity, and so all the kit combinations (of players and match officials) will be colour-blind-friendly. Globally, one in 12 men is colour blind (it’s one in 200 among females) so it’s an understandable approach with a rugby audience in mind.

Unlike players kit at RWC23, the match officials shirts will feature a sponsor. The global airline, Emirates will have their logo on the shirts and shorts – part of an initial three year arrangement which includes Rugby World Cups. You’ll have seen the logo for a while, and as part the Whistle Watch series with Nigel Owens.

The new kit will debut when hosts France take on New Zealand in the tournament’s opening match at Stade de France on 8 September.

In a change to the 2019 approach, the match official shirts can be bought by the public at rugbyworldcup.com (£72/€85/$94)