New Scotland alternate kit unveiled

The senior Scotland team will run out resplendent in the red and gold of the lion rampant this autumn after the new alternate kit for the 2014/15 season was unveiled today at a supporters’ event at BT Murrayfield Stadium.The new strip is the first to pay homage to the 1980s and 90s, when the flags festooned the terracing and stands at BT Murrayfield Stadium.Complete with gold piping and a roaring lion embossed prominently on the back of the shirt, the kit is finished by a traditional polo collar, picked out in navy, to match the blue flanks of the jersey.The players’ Test match kits are ‘bodyfit’, with a standard fit also available to supporters from the recently refurbished Scottish Rugby Store at BT Murrayfield, online at shop.scottishrugby.org, as well other offical Macron stockists.Scottish Rugby Director of Commerical Operations, Communications and Public Affairs, Dominic McKay, explained the thought behind the new style.He said: Scotland and the Scotland national rugby team have a huge amount of heritage locked into the saltire flag, which is reflected in our traditional blue and white colours. It adorns the team tunnel and will always have a special place at BT Murrayfield.Following feedback from supporters and players, we wanted to do something new with our alternate jersey, while also keeping in touch with the tradition of Scotland, which – over a year ago – led us to consider taking inspiration from the colours of the lion rampant.- – Dominic McKay; Director of Commerical Operations, Communications and Public Affairs.Many of us can remember a time when the flag featured heavily at the home of Scottish Rugby, alongside the saltire, on many memorable match-days in the 80s and 90s.Kit welcomed by players past and present…Former Scotland and British & Irish Lions back-row, John Jeffrey, who won 40 caps for his country between 1984 and 1990, welcomed the chance to see the red and gold return.He said: I was fortunate enough to play 19 games for Scotland at what we now call the BT Murrayfield Stadium, and have a lot of fond memories of playing Test matches in front of packed crowds, with the saltire and lion rampant flags flying side by side.It was a fantastic sight and I hope that this kit can represent a return of those colours, together with our traditional blue and white, to the home of Scottish Rugby.It’s a bold move but one that’s been done with a lot of thought. It’s modern enough to challenge the status quo, but traditional enough to reflect another great part of the nation’s heritage.”- – Former Scotland great John JeffreyThe new alternate kit will make its first outing at BT Murrayfield this November when the nation takes on New Zealand (Saturday 15) in the second of three Autumn Test matches, either side of games against Argentina at the same venue (Saturday 8 November), and Tonga, at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock (Saturday 22 November).Among the first to wear it in action could be Scotland number 8 David Denton, who tried on the kit at the official launch today.I really like the new jersey and think it’s good that Macron and Scottish Rugby are coming up with new ideas, while keeping it traditional.- – Scotland number 8 David DentonI really like the look of the kit and the lion on the back is special, so hopefully we’ll see plenty of both in the stands at BT Murrayfield when we run out in the Autumn Tests this November.”Gianluca Pavanello, CEO of Macron, said: The design team of Macron, thanks to careful study, painstaking research and collaboration with Scottish Rugby, wanted to create a product that came out of the usual schemes of sports uniform, which gave rise to a new, bespoke, single-stretch, fabric created for the national team.It is these principles that have made the company a leader in active sportswear, tailoring and tailor made garments.After the success of the first season’s kit ‘a classic reborn’ and ‘a classic alternative’ we wanted to create something special.Once again, the synergy created between our design team and Scottish Rugby has allowed us to combine the tradition and passion of the Scottish nation with the innovation of Macron in a single product.Our hope that when this new alternate kit is worn with pride against the All Black this November, it will be a fans’ favorite, becoming part of the rich legacy and history of not just Scottish rugby but all of Scotland.