Rugby Shirts are the New Cool Kid Go-To

There’s something undoubtedly cool about rugby and all the camaraderie that comes with it. Epitomising rugged masculinity, it’s a game laden with die-hard fans, dodgy trims and pints of Guinness, helping you to digest the 80 minutes’ of sporting euphoria. If there’s one thing about rugger that truly unites fans and fashionistas alike, it’s the shared love of the shirts, which are set to make a splash in our spring wardrobes.

For fashionistas, the mere mention of rugby shirts may evoke images of royalty and effortless sophistication. Think Princess Diana, the Queen of Hearts, whose cotton candy-hued interpretations of the sporty garment echoed the power of quiet luxury, as she paired the shirt with flocks of sport-centric garments including booty shorts and Nike trainers as she waltzed the line in-between classy and athletic.

Though Lady Di and others including the likes of David Hockney and Mick Jagger—both who wore the shirts habitually—adorned the garment a long time ago, the shirt feels totally fresh and revived and looks set to make a comeback this season. Using the playful yet preppy, refined yet classic sportswear staple as a multipurpose garment that can be worn to all occasions, we’ve seen a flock of designers put their take on the shirt for their spring 2024 collections, and celebrities adding them to their rotation in tandem.

Hailey Bieber and Taylor Swift have both been spotted elevating the humble rugby shirt. Taylor effortlessly paired an oversized black and white shirt by Stella McCartney with caramel Prada knee-high boots, while Bieber doubled down on the preppy aesthetic, donning a vibrant blue and white striped red shirt with classic black school shoes, both showing off their true scrum spirit.

On the runways of spring 2024, rugby shirts were the talk of the town. JW Anderson took on three differing colourways—grey, blue and black—for his take on the shirt, offering boxy silhouettes with overtly enlarged collars and lapels. Dries Van Noten opted for opulence, adorning his design with rich hues and drawstrings for a touch of drama, while Dsquared2 went all out channelling Ralph Lauren’s iconic aesthetic with a contemporary twist.

And let’s not forget Wales Bonner, whose reinterpretation of the rugby shirt sits at the apex of cool-kid energy. Equipped with funky collars and vibrant hues of cobalt blue, tawny red and canary, Bonner injects a dose of laid-back sophistication into the everlasting timeless classic.

Designers and celebrities continue to put their twist on the shirts, but you can’t help but feel that the shirts still carry that sartorial charm. They scream Saltburn, with an inch of private school energy and a nod of Royal approval. It’s paradoxical you see. Although the shirt screams elitism, at its core it’s a garment that grown men put on to tackle each other in a muddy field. And that duality is what makes the shirts so irresistible They’re not pretentious nor polished. They’re laid-back and effortlessly cool. So whether you’re heading to Twickenham or strolling around the streets, the shirts have got you covered to be the coolest kid on the block.