British & Irish Lions news: Five best Lions jerseys of all time
Over the years, the various iterations of British & Irish Lions jerseys have taken on both cultural and historical importance.
When it comes to reminiscing about past Lions tours, the first thing a lot of fans remember is the kit the players wore.
The shirts themselves used to be pretty similar from tour to tour, but the dawn of rugby’s professional era has seen a marked increase in variation.
Here, Sports News Blitz rugby writer Charlie Elliott counts down the five best Lions jerseys of all time.
1997 vs South Africa
The 1997 British & Irish Lions kit is widely regarded as one of the most iconic in the history of the team and for good reason.
It was manufactured by Adidas in the traditional red, with a white trim and a white collar which featured a golden lion on one side.
Even the sponsor – Scottish Provident – looked good on the shirt, blending in nicely in white font.
What truly sets this kit apart, however, is the connection it has with the team's triumph over South Africa.
The Lions’ victory in the 1997 series was historic as it was the first time they had won a series in South Africa since 1974.
That success in tandem with the classic look makes the kit synonymous with a particular era of rugby, one that evokes nostalgia and pride among fans.
Beyond its historical significance, this iteration of the Lions kit also boasted a certain simplicity and elegance that gave it a timeless aesthetic, helping cement it as one of the most beloved in Lions history.
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2001 vs Australia
Designed by Adidas once again, the 2001 version was a modern twist on the classic Lions red but with a cleaner, sharper look.
It featured a striking red base with a white collar and subtle gold trim, offering a sleek and contemporary feel in comparison to previous designs.
As in 1997, the purple and green NTL sponsor’s logo on the front simply works – despite a slight colour clash – and looks at home on the shirt.
The 2001 tour to Australia was also a memorable one, although it ended in disappointment for the Lions after a 2-1 series loss.
Regardless, it was a fiercely competitive and high-quality rugby tour, and the 2001 kit accordingly holds a special place in fans’ hearts.
Fans appreciated the durability and comfort of the shirts too, making them some of the more wearable jerseys in Lions history.
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2009 vs South Africa
Another jersey to make the list is the 2009 version, which was made iconic yet again by a great sponsor’s logo – HSBC this time – and a sense of simplicity.
To this day, the understated collar with the three stripes looks clean.
As a perfect blend of tradition and modernity, this is a shirt that you could wear in almost any setting, even smart ones.
2013 vs Australia
Adidas and the Lions had a memorable 16-year partnership in the end, and the last and quite possibly best kit that the German apparel brand produced was for the previous tour to Australia in 2013.
The Lions actually won a series for the first time since 1997 that year, thus ensuring that whatever kit was on display would go down in history.
That said, the 2012 jersey was a lovely shirt in its own right, with a white collar and HSBC as the sponsor.
Several nods to the tour being the 125th anniversary of the team’s founding were also made on various sections of the jersey.
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2025 vs Australia
Finally, we have the jersey for the upcoming tour, made by Canterbury this time.
It has divided opinion amongst fans, to be honest, and is certainly not to everyone’s taste, but it is nevertheless a modern and unique take on the shirt.
A deeper red than usual, it also features a bit of pattern when you look closely – an element some have likened to curtains.
Sponsors Howden look good on the front and fit in well with the rest of the jersey too.
The only part that is objectively bad is the lack of an embroidered logo, which does knock it down a few points sadly.
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