By
Rob Wildman
Last updated at 12:07 AM on 16th July 2011
England’s Rugby World Cup all-black
kit has provoked a furious response from angry hosts in New Zealand, led
by John Key, the prime minister.
He likened England to a ‘bunch of
wannabes’ and added: ‘There’s only one team that wears black with pride
and that’s the All Blacks.’
No fuss: All Blacks star McCaw (right) is refusing to allow England’s change in colours to hinder preparations
Key was speaking after Sportsmail’s
exclusive that Martin Johnson’s team would be wearing a new change kit
of all black in the opening pool match of the World Cup, against
Argentina on September 10, in Dunedin.
Keith Quinn, the leading New Zealand
rugby commentator, said: ‘Of all the colours in the rainbow, why would
they choose the colour of the host nation? They are thumbing their noses
at a New Zealand tradition. It’s bizarre.’
Kiwi captain Richie McCaw tried to
distance himself from the controversy surrounding the Rugby Football
Union’s decision to introduce the jersey. McCaw said the New Zealand
rugby authorities could not stop other nations using the black colour.
‘It’s not something we can control — if we all get worried about it here then we’ve got ourselves in trouble,’ he added.
Iconic brand: New Zealand have made their all black kit world famous
England are set to unveil the black
strip on August 1, five days before the first World Cup warm-up match
against Wales at Twickenham.
A spokesman for the RFU said the
England team would revert to the traditional white jersey for the two
other warm-up games against Wales, in Cardiff, August 13, and against
Ireland, in Dublin, August 27.
He said that England planned to use the black kit only in the first World Cup pool game against Argentina.
World Cup chief Martin Snedden tried to placate fellow New Zealanders.
‘We should see the move as a
compliment. As a country we believe in the power of the jersey, the
power of the black, and maybe that is what England are trying to get
their hands on,’ he said.
Grey area: England beat Australia at Twickenham last year in a dull strip – officially ‘anthracite’
An RFU spokesperson said: ‘Like all
countries, England are obliged by the Rugby World Cup participation
agreement to have a change strip.
‘We
have worked with Nike on producing a shirt that complies with Rugby
World Cup and International Rugby Board regulations and, fully aware of
the significance of a black shirt to New Zealand’s players and
population as a whole.
‘We have fully consulted with the New Zealand Rugby Union who confirmed they had no issues.
‘England
will therefore wear the black change shirt against Argentina at the
Otago Stadium in Dunedin on September 10 due to a clash with the light
blue and white of the Pumas.’
Australia,
the world No 2 side behind hosts New Zealand, have agreed a bonus pot
which means each player in their 30-man squad will be on £110,000 to win
the World Cup in Auckland in October.
Ex-Leeds
director of rugby Andy Key might rejoin coaching colleague Neil Back at
ambitious Rugby Lions. Key is considering an offer to join the National
Midlands league team as chief executive following Back’s decision to
sign up as head coach.
They worked together at Leeds, who were relegated from the Aviva Premiership.
Explore more:
People: John Key, Martin Johnson Places: Leeds, Cardiff, Dublin, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Wales, Ireland Organisations: New Zealand Rugby Union, Rugby Football Union
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Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2015343/New-Zealand-Prime-Minister-blasts-Englands-black-kit.html?ITO=1490
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