Wallabies make Aboriginal design a permanent feature of jerseys | rugby federation

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An Australian representative team will wear both the coat of arms and a First Nations design on their main game kit for the first time, after the Wallabies unveiled a new shirt incorporating Indigenous artwork in the numbers on the back.

Rugby Australia released their latest gold player shirt modification on Wednesday, complete with player numbers to feature the work of Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay artist Dennis Golding.

Rugby Australia said the artwork “celebrates and recognizes the First Nations people of Australian rugby” and highlights all of the communities coming together as one.

Golding’s work has previously been seen on Australia’s existing First Nations strip, which was first used in a Test against the All Blacks in 2017 and has since had another release. four times.

The new permanent design will make its debut at Sunday’s Rugby Championship Test against world champions South Africa on the Gold Coast. The First Nations jersey will be presented again for the test match against Argentina in Townsville two weeks later on September 25.

The Wallabies players, including Kurtley Beale, wore the First Nations jersey during their match against Uruguay at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Photography: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said it was the group of players who advocated for the design to be incorporated permanently.

“This jersey has meaning for every member of our team, and having the First Nations artwork now on our primary jersey is something incredibly special,” Rennie said.

“As a team, we pride ourselves on culture and inclusiveness, and that’s what the First Nations jersey represents, and having it now on both jerseys is something special for our community of rugby.”

Indigenous player Andy Muirhead, who was first called up to an extended Wallabies squad for the three-Test series against France earlier this year, said the incorporation of the design was a big step forward in the recognition of First Nations peoples.

“The boys wearing the native jersey for the past two years have been really cool, but it’s a good idea – that the boys can run every week and display Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture,” Muirhead said. “It’s quite special.”

The First Nations shirt had a memorable start to life in a famous and rare Wallabies victory over the All Blacks in a Bledisloe Cup tie at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

It was then brought to Twickenham against England before making an appearance against Uruguay in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and on two further occasions in the 2020 Tri-Nations tournament – against New Zealand and Argentina – in Sydney.

Rennie said a lot of thought went into deciding when and where to wear the tape next, and the Wallabies clash with Argentina in Townsville was the obvious choice.

“We represent a strong First Nations community, and when we wear this jersey, we believe it will provide us with an even stronger connection to our people,” he said.

“As a team, we pride ourselves on culture and inclusiveness, and that’s what the First Nations jersey represents, and having it now on both jerseys is something special for our community of rugby.”

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