England unveil new kit for World Cup at Twickenham Stadium
Monday 6 July 2015 11:09, UK
England skipper Chris Robshaw has helped the team reveal the new kit to be worn at the home World Cup that starts in September.
The main kit is still white but the change strip is red having undergone more than 220 hours of testing with over 250,000 miles of travel going into perfecting the design, including the addition of a red rose that has been 3D injection-moulded.
"It's truly an honour to have the World Cup shirt on," said Robshaw at Twickenham, nine weeks before his side kick off the tournament on home soil against Fiji.
"Over the last three-and-a-half, four years there's been a lot spoken about the tournament. Of course a lot of rugby is judged on the World Cup and those are the games that people remember.
"To be part of one in England puts us in an extremely privileged position. I'm very proud to be captain, I have some great people around me, some great players.
"We challenge each other in the right way and we're getting closer as a group. That should put us in a good place for the World Cup."
The new shirts lifts the number of England kits released over the last 10 months to six and the Rugby Football Union has already been accused by fans of profiteering from the World Cup.
Four price points of £120, £70, £60 and £55 have been set for the men's shirt - the junior size is £50 - although the £120 jersey is a commemorative Test edition of which 2015 are available.
England head coach Stuart Lancaster at the launch at Twickenham Stadium added: "Every player in the squad takes enormous pride in pulling on the England shirt.
"As a group, we talk about the unbreakable bond of the rose between former, current and future players and for this symbol to be emphasised in 3D form is a key feature. We are grateful for the support of the fans and in the year of a home World Cup the power of the nation behind us can be the difference."
England won the 2003 tournament and reached the 2007 final but made a dismal exit at the quarter-final stage four years ago in New Zealand as the All Blacks won on home turf.
