Top 5 British and Irish Lions Shirts
The British and Irish Lions are back! Here at Rugbystuff.com we are gearing up as the Lions head down-under on a 9-match tour of Australia this Summer.
Every Lions tour is another chapter in a storied legacy, and the jersey plays a central role. To celebrate this journey, we've compiled our list of our favourite 5 British & Irish Lions shirts of all time.
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5. 2017
Kicking off our list is the shirt worn on the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, the first to be designed by Canterbury. This jersey is a fantastic combination of tradition and modernity. It is predominantly classic Lions' red, featuring the iconic Lions badge sitting prominently on the chest. The collar, however, is a unique, modern V-neck design - a classy variation of the traditional white Lions collar. The Canterbury logo and Standard Life Investment sponsorship also feature, but in plain white, tying in with the simplicity of the jersey. Overall, it boasts a clean, streamlined look that balances heritage with a performance-driven aesthetic. This jersey is a memorable one for Lions fans as the team record a historic series draw against the mighty All Blacks.
4. 2005
In fourth place, we have the 2005 British & Irish Lions jersey, crafted by Adidas. Again predominantly red and featuring the traditional Lions crest on the left breast, what makes this jersey stand out is its true embodiment of mid-2000s rugby style. The polyester jersey boasts sleek, curved stitch-lines running down the sides from the collar to the bottom, adding a dynamic element to the design. The white collar also sports a curved, streamlined look, complementing the overall aesthetic. And of course, no Adidas rugby jersey would be complete without the signature three stripes adorning the sleeves. All these features combine to create a crisp, clean Lions jersey that perfectly captures the mid-2000s sportswear trends. Despite the slick design, this jersey may evoke painful memories for Lions fans, as the 2005 tour to New Zealand resulted in a 3-0 whitewash by a dominant All Blacks side.
3. 1971
We couldn't complete this list without including the OG! Debuted in 1950 and virtually unchanged for over 40 years, this is the design all modern jerseys are based on. Red, long sleeved, cotton with a classic white collar and the Lions badge on the left breast. We have picked the 1971 version as this was the year that saw the Lions make history recording their first tour win over the All Blacks. Original versions of this jersey are hard to come by, however Ellis Rugby has recreated this classic jersey from the '71 tour with outstanding attention to detail. The jersey is available here at rugbystuff.com and is a must-have for any classic fan of the British and Irish Lions.
2. 2025
Fast-forwarding to this year, we have the most recent iteration of the Lions' shirt in second place. This jersey, designed by Canterbury, brilliantly pays homage to the rich history of the Lions, not only by capturing the traditional elements of the strip, but by the addition of features that represent what the Lions are all about. A deeper shade of red, with a modern white collar, white also features on the sleeves. Rather than being plain red, the jersey features a jacquard pattern of flowers representing England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales across the jersey. As usual, the Lions crest features on the left breast, while the Canterbury logo features on the right. The Howden sponsorship across the chest is simple and ties in nicely with the overall aesthetic of the shirt. In our opinion, this jersey is the best Lions' shirt in a while, and it's available to buy here at Rugbystuff.com!
1. 1997
Finally, in our top spot, we have the 1997 edition of the Lions' jersey, the team wore on that year's tour of South Africa. The last Lions' shirt to be made of heavy cotton, this jersey retains features of the classic Lions' shirt: red with a standard white collar. However, the jersey also represents the early professional era of the late 1990s, which saw kit makers and jersey sponsors come to the fore. Made by Adidas, the iconic three stripes feature on the shoulders and sleeves, while the Adidas logo of the 1990s features on the right breast. The Scottish Provident logo is also across the chest, the first jersey sponsor to feature on a Lions' shirt. Overall, the jersey is the perfect mix of vintage and modern rugby style and certainly our favourite of all time. It also helps that in this shirt, the 1997 team recorded a 2-1 series victory, making them only the third team ever to record a tour series victory against the Springboks.
So there you have it, our top five Lions shirts of all time. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Gear up and get ready for the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour with Rugbystuff.com.
