New title sponsor Admiral features on the front of the jersey and will be worn by both the men and women for the first time in Dubai next week in the first round of the World Rugby Sevens Series.
“The dragon plays a significant part in Welsh identity, so the prominence of the dragon-scale pattern on our kit is very pleasing,” said head coach Gareth Williams. “The symbolism is particularly powerful for us because we’ve been cultivating a feeling of Welshness in the squad for a while now; learning about our nation’s heritage and the Welsh language in order to strengthen our bond as a team.”
The new sevens jersey features Under Armour’s CoolSwitch technology that works to draw heat away from the body and cools the skin at the same time. By combating perspiration and rising body temperatures, the jersey reacts in real time to keep the players’ bodies at the optimum temperature for high-performance rugby – an imperative feature for when the players run out in the extreme heat of countries like Dubai and Singapore.
The partnership between Wales Sevens and Admiral was launched in hands-on fashion this week, with employees from the Welsh-based insurance company – recently named as one of the world’s best workplaces – spending the day training with the squad.
Admiral Group CEO David Stevens commented: “We’re hugely proud to be sponsoring the Wales Sevens team for the next four years and this marks a new chapter in our partnership with Welsh Rugby. I know our staff will take real pride in seeing the team take the Admiral logo around the world. The new jersey looks fantastic and we wish the team all the best for the opening round in Dubai and for the rest of the season.
“Our staff had the chance to train with the team and were blown away by the welcome they received, the skills on show and just what it means to the squad to represent their country.”
The new kit will go on sale in early 2018 with authentic and replica jerseys available to purchase from the WRU store and online at wru.co.uk.
