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Rugby

13th Jul 2023

After Ireland’s latest jersey release, we’ve ranked all the World Cup kits

No messing about

Patrick McCarry

Ireland launched their new World Cup jerseys in Galway, today, and they did a mighty fine job of it.

The new, Canterbury-designed Ireland jersey is a simple, clean offering.

The green is a vibrant shade with thin white trimming. The World Cup emblem will sit upon the players’ right breast and the designer logo lies beneath the circular collar.

This will be the 10th World Cup jersey worn by Ireland at rugby’s greatest tournament. It is only right and proper, then, to rank the jerseys from top to bottom, starting with…

IRELAND JERSEY RANKINGS

10th: 1995

The biggest arm-pitted jersey of all time. Bland, dogged effort that reflected the team. Got to a quarter-final before France sent them home.

Simon Geoghegan of Ireland. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

9th: 1999

This is in keeping with the rugby fashion of the time but it is fairly uninspired. Warren Gatland’s side were dumped out in a quarter-final playoff against Argentina.

Eric Elwood of Ireland points the way during the 1999 Rugby World Cup. (Credit: Ben Radford /Allsport)

8th: 1991

Humongous collars on a clean, old-school design. Pretty big crest too. So, so close to a semi-final. Damn you Michael Lynagh!

Gary Armstrong (centre) of Scotland is tackled by Jim Staples (left) and David Curtis (right) of Ireland during the 1991 Rugby World Cup. (Credit: Simon Bruty/Allsport)

7th: 1987

The simpler collar is just about the only thing that marks it out from its younger brother. Solid. Donal Lenihan captained this side to the last eight but Wales ended their dreams.

6th: 2015

Canterbury are playing it safe for the World Cup and have produced a stripped-down jersey. There is little to spark the imagination – save the low, dipping collar – but it should prove very popular.

ireland-jerseys

5th: 2023

The latest offering. We prefer the away number.

Ireland jersey

4th: 2011

Simple, classy, elegant, green. Need we say more?

Ireland jersey

3rd: 2019

Conor MurrayIreland players, from left, Jonathan Sexton, Keith Earls, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray, at the Tokyo Stadium in Chofu, Japan, in 2019. (Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile)

2nd: 2007

This marked the fully fledged entrance into the world of strength & conditioning, and unforgiving jerseys. A brave effort from Canterbury was not rewarded with on-field performances. Pool stage elimination.

Jerry FlanneryJerry Flannery, Ireland, at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. (Credit; Oliver McVeigh/SPORTSFILE)

1st: 2003

Ireland jerseyShane Horgan of Ireland in action during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Where do the jerseys rank for you? Let us know on our social media channels.

*Updated from piece first posted in July 2015

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