The Evolution of the British & Irish Lions Kit
It's an exciting time at Rugbystuff.com; the 2025 British and Irish Lions kit is here!
The Lions are synonymous with the iconic red jersey adorned with a four quarter badge. White shorts, and blue and green socks, making up the colours of the home nations, whose players make up the team. Despite the iconic status of the Lions kit, it hasn't always appeared as it does today.
To celebrate the much anticipated 2025 British and Irish Lions kit release, let's take a look at it's evolution over 137 years of history and compare it to how it appears today.
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Early Stripes (1888-1910)
When the Lions first toured to Australia and New Zealand in 1888, the tour promoter Arthur Shrewsbury demanded the kit be 'something that would be good material and yet take them by storm out here.'
The kit was certainly striking, composed of large red, white, and blue hooped jerseys, paired with knee-length white shorts and dark socks. Stripes were the norm for the early Lions teams. The team wore red and white hooped jerseys with dark blue shorts for the 1891 and 1896 South Africa tours, while the 1899 and 1904 tours to Australia saw a shift to thick dark blue bands with thin white and red stripes.
Change to Blue, the Birth of a Badge and Green Socks (1910-1950)
On the 1910 tour to South Africa, it was out with stripes and the team wore solid dark blue jerseys for the first time - a colour that would become the status quo for the next 40 years.
The iconic four-quartered badge, debuted on the Lions tour of South Africa 14 years later replacing the previous rampant lion badge. The irony was that this was the first tour in which the team was coined the 'Lions' - a result of the Lion symbol which remained on the team's tie.
Green also appeared on the Lions socks for the first time in 1930 after delegation of Irish players in the team expressed their wish to have their countries colour represented in the kit.
Change to Red (1950-1993)
The 1950 Lions tour of New Zealand and Australia that saw the debut of the iconic strip that still remains the same today: red jerseys, white shorts and blue and green socks.
The change was brought about by need, rather than style as the old dark blue jersey had clashed with the black of the All Blacks during the 1930 tour.
The strip at this time was still simple made from cotton with a collar, and plain, the only decoration being the four quarter badge. This was how it would stay for the next 40 odd years.
Adapting to the Professional Game (1993-Present)
As the 90s saw rugby move towards professionalism (which eventuated in 1995), kit makers and then sponsors began to feature on the Lions jersey.
The Nike swoosh became the first decoration to the kit other than a badge on the Lions 1993 tour to New Zealand, and in 1997 Scottish Provident featured on the middle of the jersey for the Lions tour of South Africa.
Since then kit makers and sponsors have featured on every iteration of the jersey. The fabric changed too, the 2001 Australian tour team the first to wear polyester rather than cotton jerseys, while jerseys have became tighter and tighter through the 2000's. Both of these alterations inspired by practicality as it made it harder for players to be tackled. Collars have also disappeared from the jersey, although this is more down to fashion than for any practical reason.
Fast Forward: The 2025 Design
Fast forward to today, the 2025 British & Irish Lions roar is getting louder, and with it comes the highly anticipated kit designed by Canterbury. This year's iteration is a powerful blend of tradition and cutting-edge performance technology.
At the heart of the design lies the iconic red, a symbol of unity for the combined force of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. The famous Lions crest takes centre stage, a constant reminder of the team's illustrious past. But look closer, and you might find subtle nods to past jerseys or historic victories woven into the fabric, adding a touch of nostalgia for die-hard fans.
Canterbury hasn't forgotten the players battling it out on the pitch. The new design boasts a deeper shade of red compared to previous years. But the real innovation lies beneath the surface. The jersey incorporates a cutting-edge jacquard pattern that's woven directly into the fabric. This not only adds a touch of texture but also helps with moisture management, keeping players cool and comfortable under pressure.
These days its not just about the jersey however. In addition to the classic red jersey, Canterbury has introduced two exciting new collections: the Outback and the Camo.
The Outback range pays homage to the host nation, Australia. It features earthy tones, bold patterns inspired by the Australian landscape. This collection is perfect for fans who want to embrace the spirit of the tour and show their support for the Lions in style.
The Camo collection offers a modern and edgy take on the traditional rugby kit. It features a striking camouflage pattern, giving the jersey a unique and tactical look. This collection is ideal for fans who want to stand out from the crowd and showcase their bold sense of style.
If you want to be part of the Lions pride, head over to Rugbystuff.com. We offer the full official collection from Canterbury, including the coveted 2025 British & Irish Lions jersey.
So, grab your own piece of rugby history and support the Lions as they take on the challenge Down-Under in 2025.
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