Identical Outfits Lead to Confusion: Hurricanes and Fiji Rugby Teams Collide in Absurd Kit Clash

This article originally appeared on Stuff and is reproduced with permission

Rugby has long struggled with kit clashes, but the Hurricanes and Fiji took this to an unprecedented level during the Super Rugby under-20 tournament held in Taupo over the weekend.

In a farcical turn of events, both teams took to the pitch at Owen Delany Park wearing remarkably similar white and black uniforms, leaving casual viewers in a state of confusion as to which team was which.

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The decision to permit both teams to wear such similar uniforms drew significant criticism on social media post-match, with one user labelling it “the worst jersey clash ever” on the All Blacks’ YouTube channel.

“Poor refereeing,” remarked another commentator.

The issue of the kit clash has been acknowledged by New Zealand Rugby.

In a statement to Stuff, they noted that the Hurricanes’ jersey appeared more yellow in promotional photos prior to the tournament than it did on live television, and they expressed apologies to viewers who struggled to follow the match.

“We absolutely recognise the similarities in the Hurricanes and Fiji jerseys during the Super Rugby Under 20 match on Saturday,” said a spokesperson.

“The Hurricanes jerseys looked considerably more yellow in the images we reviewed before the tournament, but this was much less clear when it came to the actual game day, particularly in the broadcast.

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“We regret the confusion that some fans experienced while trying to watch the match. We will take steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

The Hurricanes emerged victorious with a resounding 65-10 win, but with such a kit clash, it was hard to tell who was who at times.

Kit clashes have been a recurring issue even at the highest levels of Super Rugby; in 2020, the Bulls had to change into their alternative yellow jerseys at halftime as their home strip was almost indistinguishable from the Highlanders’ blue.