It’s a question many rugby fans have only just found the answer to – why do the British & Irish Lions wear red?
The answer lies in the history of one of rugby’s most iconic touring teams, and the need to unite four proud nations – England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Since the 1950 tour of New Zealand, the Lions have donned their now-traditional red jersey, paired with white shorts and blue socks featuring a green turnover – colours carefully selected to represent all four nations in one kit.
Before that, the Lions had experimented with several looks. The original 1888 strip featured blue and red hoops on a white base, with matching white shorts and blue socks. Over the years, designs evolved – including a dark blue jersey with white collar and red socks that became the standard by 1910.
But not everyone was happy.
The all-blue shirt worn during the controversial 1930 tour of New Zealand caused a major stir. The colour clashed with the All Blacks’ kit, forcing them to wear white for the first time in their history. Irish lock George Beamish also questioned the lack of green, prompting the addition of green turnovers on the socks.
The outbreak of WWII paused Lions tours, and when they returned to action in 1950, so did a new-look kit. Determined to avoid another kit clash with New Zealand, the Lions switched from blue to red – and the rest is history.
That famous red jersey has remained ever since, with only subtle changes like sponsor logos and kit supplier tweaks. Nike became the first official kit partner in 1993, while Scottish Provident was the first front-of-shirt sponsor in 1997.
One jersey. Four nations. A legacy stitched in red.
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Eddie Jones Names Four Nailed-On Starters for the Lions Test XV
Jones, never shy of a bold opinion, believes there are already four players who have effectively nailed down their spots in the starting lineup for the Test series against Australia. These selections come not just from moments of brilliance, but from deeper traits: work-rate, adaptability, and X-factor—qualities Jones has always valued in his coaching career.
Here are the four Lions players Jones sees as Test starters based on the early stages of the tour:
1. Mack Hansen – Wing
Despite some criticism in the press for a high error count, Jones came firmly to the defence of the Irish flyer, calling out pundits for “focusing on error count over involvement.” Hansen, he said, “epitomised the Lions spirit,” getting stuck into every aspect of play—from clearing rucks to challenging in the air to making incisive runs.
“He’s a leggy bugger—really hard to put down in contact,” Jones said. “I thought he was great… he’ll be an absolute glue player for Andy Farrell.”
It’s clear that for Jones, Hansen’s relentless involvement and intent make him undroppable, even if the execution isn’t always perfect.
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