As the 2026 Six Nations Championship hurtles towards its climax, the final showdown between France and England is set to be an eyesore due to a glaring kit clash, all because of a nostalgic jersey choice by France that could have been easily avoided. The historic rivals will face off on Super Saturday, but the visual spectacle may be less than stellar.
The controversy stems from the French Rugby Federation and adidas unveiling a special anniversary jersey to mark 120 years of the storied rivalry, known as Le Crunch. The kit, inspired by the light blue jersey worn by the French team in their inaugural 1906 match against England, was meant to be a celebratory nod to history. "Drawing directly from the history of the rivalry, the design of the match jersey – and its replica version – references the original light blue jersey worn by the French team in 1906 for their first fixture against England," a statement from the French Rugby Federation explained.
"The 1927 FFR logo adorned on the collection denotes the year of the French team’s first victory against England, while the ‘Tricolore’ stripes are a nod to the French rugby kits of the late 80s and 90s, when adidas was the kit supplier of the federation."
Traditionally, the clash features France in blue and England in white, but the pale hue of France's commemorative kit could lead to confusion on the field, as it closely resembles the English colors. Despite the potential for a kit mix-up, England has opted to stick with their traditional white, adding fuel to the fire of an already heated debate on kit policies.
The introduction of a World Rugby policy in 2025 aimed at preventing such clashes by restricting similar kit colors during matches, especially important for fans with color blindness, has not been mandatory in the Six Nations. This oversight might make the upcoming game frustrating for some viewers, with about eight percent of males suffering from red/green color blindness.
While the French kit has been a hit among fans, selling out quickly since its release, its reception during the game might be mixed. The clash in colors on such a crucial match day could distract from the high-stakes play on the field, turning what should be a vibrant display of rugby into a puzzling blend of similar shades.
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As the 2026 Six Nations Championship hurtles towards its climax, the final showdown between France and England is set to be an eyesore due to a glaring kit clash, all because of a nostalgic jersey choice by France that could have been easily avoided. The historic rivals will face off on Super Saturday, but the visual spectacle may be less than stellar.
The controversy stems from the French Rugby Federation and adidas unveiling a special anniversary jersey to mark 120 years of the storied rivalry, known as Le Crunch. The kit, inspired by the light blue jersey worn by the French team in their inaugural 1906 match against England, was meant to be a celebratory nod to history. "Drawing directly from the history of the rivalry, the design of the match jersey – and its replica version – references the original light blue jersey worn by the French team in 1906 for their first fixture against England," a statement from the French Rugby Federation explained.
"The 1927 FFR logo adorned on the collection denotes the year of the French team’s first victory against England, while the ‘Tricolore’ stripes are a nod to the French rugby kits of the late 80s and 90s, when adidas was the kit supplier of the federation."
Traditionally, the clash features France in blue and England in white, but the pale hue of France's commemorative kit could lead to confusion on the field, as it closely resembles the English colors. Despite the potential for a kit mix-up, England has opted to stick with their traditional white, adding fuel to the fire of an already heated debate on kit policies.
The introduction of a World Rugby policy in 2025 aimed at preventing such clashes by restricting similar kit colors during matches, especially important for fans with color blindness, has not been mandatory in the Six Nations. This oversight might make the upcoming game frustrating for some viewers, with about eight percent of males suffering from red/green color blindness.
While the French kit has been a hit among fans, selling out quickly since its release, its reception during the game might be mixed. The clash in colors on such a crucial match day could distract from the high-stakes play on the field, turning what should be a vibrant display of rugby into a puzzling blend of similar shades.