World Rugby's new policy leaves bitter taste for Boks

NEWS: World Rugby's effort to assist colour-blind fans will have a major impact on the Springboks and All Blacks.

According to Daily Maverick World Rugby has quietly adopted a policy that Test teams will have to wear ‘light’ or ‘dark’ kits from 2025 to make it easier for spectators suffering from colour vision deficiency (CVD), commonly known as colour-blindness.

The new policy might see the Springboks having to wear a white strip when they take on the All Blacks or France, despite the kits not clashing.

In 2021, World Rugby released a statement regarding their intention to adopt the policy, which will become applicable from January 1, 2025, to all World Rugby competitions.

Last week they made the policy official.

This change means that when the Springboks and All Blacks meet after 2025 they will never play in their “home” kit.

While the Six Nations will also look very different when rivals Wales and Ireland lock horns.

However, the policy has not been welcomed with open arms.

According to Daily Maverick, SA Rugby has written to World Rugby indicating that it might not follow the protocol demanding light and dark jerseys, with New Zealand Rugby believed to be doing the same.

SA Rugby confirmed to @rugby365com, they have written to World Rugby indicating that it might not follow the protocol demanding light and dark jerseys.

“While SA Rugby supports World Rugby’s ambition to make rugby as inclusive as possible, we have serious reservations about the potential impacts the application of the colour-blindness regulations may have, and believe they need further interrogation,” SA Rugby acting chief executive Rian Oberholzer revealed.

“For instance, it would mean that the Springboks and All Blacks would never meet again with both in their primary colours at any World Rugby event.

“The guidelines say that: ‘If only one person watching on the sidelines of the school field is having trouble following some elements of the game due to an avoidable kit clash, then rugby is letting them down.’

“But we believe that some or all of the 11 out of 12 males and 199 out of 200 women who are not colour-blind (on the statistical base presented) may also feel let down if the time-honoured traditions of the game are lost, setting aside the potential damage to the equity established in those colours and brands over centuries.

“We believe the impact on the game’s broader support base also needs to be considered. We will continue to engage with World Rugby on the subject.”

Upon further investigation, SA Rugby confirmed the news to @rugby365com. They revealed they have written to World Rugby indicating that it might not follow the protocol demanding light and dark jerseys.

In the All Blacks' case, it means that they will have to play 50 percent of their matches in white, which would undermine their brand and their commercial value.

*READ: World Rugby on colour-blindness

Source: World Rugby & Daily Maverick