WalesOnline today announced that Wale's new rugby kit has been launched and is now on sale! Nearly a year in the making, the kit was put to the test by Warren Gatland’s men trying to rip it off each other’s backs, and it is claimed that the Welsh rugby team’s new kit could be the most technologically advanced in the world.
The kit features slinky, “anti-grab” material and in-built sun protection, to team socks with added charcoal to stop them smelling, its creators say it is a genuine feat of engineering. The jersey, which was created by up to 100 people, is made from polyester and nylon and contains several features to help finely tune performance.
The home shirt has anti-microbial properties and an ultraviolet protection factor to guard against the sun’s harmful rays. The shirt – which will get its debut against South Africa on November 8 – is designed to keep the players’ core body temperature at the optimal level, and to keep them dry. Its tightness helps remove sweat in seconds.
It also features “dragon scale grippy” technology on the inside of the sleeves and to the side of the chest for enhanced ball-handling ability and can even withstand being pulled in different directions.
Its durability was put to the test when Wales coach Warren Gatland told his team to try and rip the shirts off each other’s backs during a training session.
The company behind the new kit is US firm Under Armour, the flagship sportswear provider for American football and basketball, which has also provided equipment for soldiers on the frontline. Its bosses admit they had considered designing kit for other nations, but chose Wales because of its passion for the sport.
Under Armour’s representative in the UK, Mike Dods said: "If the kit makes a 0.1% difference, like semi-fitted shorts, that might help Shane Williams not get caught a metre from the line, that’s when we know we’ve done our job.”
Throughout production, Under Armour also visited rugby clubs and schools across Wales to get into the mindset of the average Welsh fan and what they wanted.
The new kit is on sale now from £70 for the professional jersey and £40 for the fans’ shirt. It will also be sold online at www.wru.co.uk
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