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A quick history of the Australian uniform

Posted by Hadyn on Tuesday, 29 Jul 2008.

DSC02469

I put up some photos yesterday including a lovely little pic of the Aussie team. I started writing a comment (in reply to Noizy) but it got a bit too long, so if I may be indulged (and quite frankly it's my blog so you've got no choice), I'll do a little uniform breakdown:

  • The Aussies are all wearing long sleeves, except for the lock (#4). Though it appears that he has rolled up his sleeves rather than having a short-sleeved version of the jersey.
  • The bearded gent with the blue headband seems to be wearing Australian Adidas boots too (or at least the stripes are gold)
  • The bearded gent with the white headband has his laces taped, something I wasn't aware of players doing until recently, but it looks like it has been happening since at least the 70s. He also has his sleeves rolled up.
  • The sleeves terminate in an elastic cuff, which reminds me of 1980's tracksuits
  • This style of jersey was still around in 1984 when Australia went for a Grand Slam
  • I totally dig the striped socks, they should bring them back
  • In fact, they should bring back the whole design as a throwback uni. It's better than the current "Wallabra" version. How many Canterbury logos can you spot in that picture?
  • There's a really interesting history of the Aussie jersey here. Perhaps the most interesting thing is that Australia's national colours came from rugby:
     
    In 1928, NSW and QLD Rugby Unions agreed that 'the Australian amateur representative colours of green and gold, should be adopted'. In 1929 when New Zealand toured Australia, the first official Australian Jersey was introduced - an emerald green jersey with the Australian Coat of Arms and green leg socks with green and gold bars on the top.

RugbyBlips: vote it up!

The Aussies had that horrible one recently.

We are very lucky we wear black, that can't be messed around with too much... That said, the peak of All Black jerseys was around the Graham Mourie / Men In Black era - I think we may have even had hooped socks then too.

Very interesting, i like this website.

This Graham Mourie? The All Blacks' socks seem to have always had the two white stripes at the top, rather than hoops. Though I would love to be proven wrong on that, I'm a fan of hooped socks.

Yep - by hoops I mean horizontal stripes. If the stripes are vertical, they're stripes. If you get me. I'm not sure I do.

I'm fairly sure* that "hoops" are what the Aussies are wearing (ie. thick stripes down the leg) while "stripes" are what the All Blacks have (i.e. stripes on the cuff).

Vertical stripes are really rare and so are called "vertical stripes".

*which is a good indication that I'm not sure at all

I like the socks they wear on the picture and well, I like the old one outfit better too, but I will keep the stars of the new one, cause that's rare. Interesting the history part too ; )

That Wallabra is quite ridiculous. I know you mentioned the 'bra" bit is made of grippy stuff so the ball stays stuck but who hold the ball tightly to the middle of their chest? Honestly.

And just had a thought. It would be funny if the Qwallabies didnt fly Qantas to the game in NZ cos they were scared it might not make it. Heh heh.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4632288a12.html

"who hold the ball tightly to the middle of their chest? Honestly."
Sione Lauaki. oh, wait...

Maybe they gonna found out that the incident was due to a screwdriver that a cosmonaut has dropped from the space station, like some type of accident in the movie "Donnie Darko".

Now what I just saw and that I found very funny on that picture, is that, the player who hold the ball has some type of yellow halo on his head and if you push to look behind that halo, on the second plan the beard player looks like he is seeing it as he has grab the other player and that the shot could have been taken right before he told him:"Look !!!!!" LOLLL

HAHAHAHA heyy im doing a project at school id just like to say thanks on having some imformation on the history of the uniform this is the only site i have been able to find anything on... lol

Ahem, not all :)

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