Replica Shirts: Fit, Authenticity and Care

SPORT · GLOBAL

Replica Shirts: Fit, Authenticity and Care

Replica and player issue, spotting fakes, sizing and washing

Team shirts come in versions that differ considerably in cut and price, and the differences are rarely explained on the shelf.

Replica and authentic

Replica shirts are cut generously for comfort and use heavier fabric. Player issue or authentic versions use lighter technical fabric, a much tighter cut and bonded seams, and cost substantially more.

Rugby shirts in particular are built to be gripped and pulled, so match versions are tight by design. Order a size up if you want to wear one casually.

Spotting counterfeits

Check the badge stitching, the sponsor print quality, the neck labels and the manufacturer's product code against the official listing. Fakes usually get the small details wrong — font weight, badge outline, wash label.

A current-season shirt at a fraction of retail is not genuine. Buy from the club, the manufacturer or an authorised retailer.

Printing names and numbers

Official printing uses licensed fonts and heat-applied vinyl. Check whether printing is included and that it is done before dispatch, since aftermarket printing may not match and usually voids returns.

Washing

Inside out, cool, gentle cycle, no fabric softener and never tumble dry. Heat is what cracks printing and lifts badges, and one hot cycle does more damage than a season of wearing.

Do not iron over printing — iron the reverse or use a cloth.

Storage

Fold rather than hang on a thin hanger, which stretches the shoulders, and keep shirts out of direct sunlight.

Sizing between makers

Team kit sizing varies enormously between manufacturers and between seasons, since clubs change supplier. Check the actual chest measurement rather than the letter, particularly for match-fit versions.

Children's sizing is by age and varies even more, so work from the centimetres.

Buying as a gift

Check which season and which kit — home, away or third — since supporters mind. Include a gift receipt, and avoid printing a name unless you are certain.

Looking after printing

Wash inside out and cool, never tumble dry, and do not iron directly over a print or a badge. Heat is what cracks vinyl and lifts heat-applied numbers, and a single hot cycle can ruin a shirt.

Dry in shade, since direct sun fades both the fabric and the print.

Value

Previous-season shirts are heavily discounted and identical in quality, and training kit is frequently cheaper and worn more. A shirt worn weekly for three seasons costs very little per wear.

Check the returns policy before ordering, since printed and personalised items cannot usually be returned.

Buying

Previous-season shirts are heavily discounted and identical in quality.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop House of Rugby? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop House of Rugby — official site

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