Akuma Rugby Kits

Brand: Akuma
Model: Rugby kits
Used by: Clubs up and down the country
Locker room rating: 4.5/5
Price: Shirts £32.99; Shorts £14.99

There are some things that are just not meant to go together - footballers and pop songs, fish fingers and gravy, Wayne Rooney and Manchester United (apparently) among others.

You can now add a new one to the list... lager-loving journalists and performance-fitting rugby kits.

Now credit to the good people at Akuma Sports for at least proving me wrong on the shorts - it is the first time I have fitted into a 34in waist for a (very) good 10 years after they recommended going for a size below - however I always feared the worst when I was told the jersey that was being made for me was their muscle pro design.

Now in fairness, I thought the shirt looked pretty good on - particularly when I breathed in - but that didn't stop my colleagues at Halifax RUFC tapping my belly and asking when I was due!

Snug-fitting aside, there is no doubting the quality of the jersey and shorts. I was supplied with the 2010/11 Yorkshire strip as an example of what they offer and it certainly looks the business.

The materials are of a good quality and showed no sign of ruining despite the best efforts of my so-called team-mates - all of which want the jersey for themselves now - over the course of three training sessions.

The Yorkshire strip itself has a real funky design - something that Akuma prides itself on, with a host of snazzy strips available, particularly in its fun and tour collection.

The kits are all made and manufactured in the UK as well making for a speedier turn around of orders.

And for those pie-eaters out there, the shirts can be supplied in regular fit so you don't have to worry about trying to hide those spare tyres. The only real negative was the fact there were no pockets on the shorts - a must have for all wingers in the winter - although I can't really complain given the fact I can now boast a 34in waist once again.

Akuma has a host of different kit options available, so visit akumarugby.com for more details

Locker Room rating: 4.5/5