Personalised Rugby Shirts and Club Kit: A Practical Guide
By The Velocity Wear Team
Club rugby runs on volunteers, and kit orders often fall to whoever was slowest to leave the committee meeting. There's more to it than match shirts: training tops, stash for members, polos for the bar and hoodies for cold Saturday touchlines. Here's how to plan the lot.
Match shirts
Modern rugby match shirts are close-fitting, tough polyester designed to resist grabbing. Designs are usually sublimated, so colours and sponsors are dyed into the fabric and can't crack or peel. Check your league and RFU competition regulations on numbering, colours and sponsor placement before finalising.
Our sublimation method suits polyester kit designs, while our cotton and blend garments suit supporters and stash. Tell us which you need and we'll advise.
Numbers and names
Numbers 1 to 15 plus replacements are standard. Names are less common on club match shirts than on football kits, but popular on training and stash items. For tours and representative sides, names add a nice keepsake touch.
Training kit
Training tops take a beating. A durable performance tee or a heavier cotton tee with the club crest works for most clubs. Contrasting bibs handle drills. Keep it simple and affordable, because training kit gets replaced often.
Clubhouse and supporters
- Embroidered club polos for committee, bar volunteers and match days.
- Heavyweight club hoodies for players and parents on cold touchlines.
- Supporter tees for big games, tours and fundraising.
- A classic crested sweatshirt for members and alumni.
See our club hoodies guide for pre-order tips that avoid leftover stock.
Junior and mini rugby
Mini and junior sections often outnumber senior players. Order with room to grow, collect sizes through parents, and scale crests appropriately. For sponsors on children's kit, check RFU and league guidance on suitable sponsors.
Sponsors
Local businesses frequently sponsor club kit. Agree logo size, placement and how long the sponsorship runs. Kit is used for several seasons, so a sponsor who drops out after one year leaves you with a logo on everything.
Crests
Old club crests often need simplifying for embroidery. Send the best file available and check the proof. Don't use RFU or union marks without permission.
Tours and end-of-season dinners
Rugby tours are sacred, and a tour polo or tee with the destination, year and a nickname on the back is practically compulsory. End-of-season dinners call for something smarter, like an embroidered polo for award winners. Order these alongside your main kit when you can, to save a separate order.
Keep the kit spec safe
Record your kit colours, crest files, sponsor logos and supplier details with the club secretary. New volunteers take over every season, and a documented spec means next year's kit matches this year's instead of being a slightly different shade of club green.
Social and vets teams
Social sides, vets and touch rugby teams are often keenest on stash. A fun design for the vets' tour or a social team polo adds personality alongside the official kit.
Women's and girls' rugby
Offer fitted cuts and a broad size range in all stash and training wear.
Club shop stock
Keep a small stock of popular sizes in the clubhouse for match days, when visiting supporters and new members often want to buy.
Timing and minimums
Our minimum is 20 per design with sizes mixed, including junior sizes. Production takes 10 to 15 working days after artwork approval, plus delivery. Order in summer for a September start. See polo shirts, custom hoodies and tracksuits.
