www.wru.co.uk/youdecide goes live this afternoon at noon. For every 5,000 ‘likes’ received on the WRU’s page on the social networking site Facebook, a square will fall away revealing one of Welsh Rugby’s leading stars wearing the new technologically advanced kit.
The new design will be worn for the first time when Wales take on England and Argentina in the RWC warm-up matches scheduled this summer, will feature at the World Cup in New Zealand and be the pride of Welsh rugby fans and players alike for the next two years.
The kit will be on sale in shops and online from Thursday 30th June (with pre-orders already being taken at www.wru.co.uk ) but the power to unveil its exact look and specifications has been given exclusively to fans.
The WRU has targeted a Millennium Stadium filling 70,000 likes before the final square will be revealed – however, special bonus squares along the way will also reveal footage of the kit being worn by Wales stars in clips which show the strip in greater and greater clarity.
“We have taken the decision to try something different with this kit and reveal it exclusively to fans before anyone else gets to see it,” said WRU Group head of marketing Craig Maxwell.
“This kit is going to be a unique product on the world market and the patented designs from Under Armour have taken the science behind producing elite sports clothing to a whole new level.
“We think the design is something to behold and by utilising the social networking sites we are trying to give the jersey straight to the fans – who will of course be quick to let us know what they think of it.
“For the first time this world cup kit will be worn both before and long after the tournament has finished – obviously without the RWC logo – meaning it also has increased value for our fans who can wear it right into the 2012/2013 season and remain bang up to date.”
The new Wales 2011 RWC kit is available now on pre-order from www.wru.co.uk It will officially be revealed in a shop near you from 1 July 2011, but fans can see it first on Facebook from noon this afternoon. Prices range from £29.99 through to £84.99 depending on size and styles which range from 0-6 through to XXL and are available in long sleeve, short sleeve, replica and authentic.
THE TECHNICAL STORY
The new Wales Rugby World Cup kit, produced by Under Armour, will be the most technologically advanced kit on display in the 2011 tournament in New Zealand this Autumn.
The Wales squad will be kitted out in revolutionary new jerseys made from military grade fabric (Cordura), featuring new ‘ArmourGrid’ technology which gives extreme strength, durability and freedom of movement and ‘ArmourGrip’ which offers increased ball control.
The specialist source fabric has a long history of military use and is also found in motorcycle jackets. It has been uniquely engineered by Under Armour to provide a ‘no-grab’ jersey and short which is both lightweight and mapped to the athlete’s body to give maximum mobility.
Body mapping of the kit means that certain areas, around the inner arms and side panels allow for extra flexibility required for freedom of movement whilst retaining extreme fabric strength in other areas and offering minimum absorption of water or sweat.
The technology doesn’t stop with the jersey and shorts, the socks feature mapped compression insets to provide anatomical support to key performance areas, such as the calves, and an embedded arch support to reduce foot fatigue.
The socks also boast ArmourBlock technology to assist in the prevention of odour causing bacteria and strategic ventilation to wick moisture and accelerate evaporation.
“The important thing to note is that this concept is revolutionary not evolutionary,” explained an Under Armour spokesman.
“We are looking to change the industry when it comes to the approach for building rugby uniforms. We didn’t stop after making the jersey and short, this new Wales RWC kit offers a complete story of innovation from head to toe.”
Jersey and Short Details
* Fabric “family” capitalizing on multiple fabric story for extreme strength, durability and freedom of movement.
* NEW ArmourGrid technology (visual story as the grid is the key component of the technology)
1 Military grade fabric (Cordura) for extreme strength and power benefits.
2 Lightweight material (lightest rugby jersey in the market) to facilitate speed and endurance longevity.
3 “No-Grab” jersey and short based on combination of fabrication and functional fit/construction.
4 Minimalistic fabric density to perpetuate less absorption.
– Body mapped compression insets for maximized mobility.
– ArmourGrip technology for increased ball control.
– Value added back neck details linking back to Welsh and team culture.
Sock Details
– NEW “Dominate Sock” with mapped compression technology.
– Body mapped compression insets to provide anatomical support to key performance zone in the calves.
– ArmourBlock technology to assist in the prevention of odour causing bacteria.
– Embedded arch support to reduce foot fatigue.
– Strategic ventilation to wick moisture and accelerate evaporation.
– ArmourStretch for comfort and a perfect fit.
