Story: Rugby union

New Zealand team jerseys

New Zealand team jerseys

In 2012 the New Zealand Rugby Football Union unveiled a new-look jersey for their teams. The garment featured the logos of Adidas at top left and – prominently – of multinational insurance company AIG in the centre. AIG had just been announced as the team’s new major global sponsor. The advent of professional rugby, with players being paid large sums, led to such open advertising on team uniforms. The prominence of a commercial logo on the sacred All Black uniform was received with almost no criticism. Shown here are, from left, Richard Kahui (Māori All Blacks), Liam Messam (All Blacks), Solomon King (sevens), Huriana Manuel (women's sevens), Brad Shields (under-20) and Emma Jensen (Black Ferns).

Using this item

New Zealand Herald
Reference: 12102012NZHNSALLBLACK2A.JPG
Photograph by Natalie Slade

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Ron Palenski, 'Rugby union - The changing game', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40043/new-zealand-team-jerseys (accessed 5 May 2024)

Story by Ron Palenski, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Sep 2016