Written by Menswear Style in Essentials on the 23rd January 2019

Did you know that the early rugby kit was made up of smart white full-length flannel trousers, a jersey and a red velvet cap? Even more surprising is the fact that the first official rugby shirt was a regular cotton shirt worn with a bowtie (seriously!). As you can imagine, formal shirts were quickly thrown to the side-line in favour of something more suitable; a wool jumper with a cotton collar – something not too alien from what we are familiar with today. As we get closer to SS19 we thought we’d pick out 5 of the best on the market today.

White Stuff Crossfield Long Sleeve Rugby Shirt 

For a grown up take on sportswear, try the new Crossfield rugby shirt from White Stuff’s debut rugby shirt collection. In heavy-weight but soft 100% Cotton, this rugby top has all the traditional features, from reinforced elbow patches and a handy locker loop to a classic twill collar and authentic rubber buttons. Cut for a relaxed fit, they’ve added side splits and ribbed cuffs too – handy for keeping pushed up sleeves in check. And for a sporty finishing touch, they’ve lined the underside of the collar with stripes, contrast stitching and a logo.

Boden Hamersley Rugby Shirt 

This rugby shirt by Boden may not be made to wear on the pitch, but it's created with the same ambition to stand out from the crowd. They've used a supremely soft, mid-weight slub textured jersey that's pre-washed for that instant lived-in feel and added a twill collar with zig-zag stitching on the underside. Contemporary touches like herringbone trims on the side splits and chunky ribbed cuffs make this classic style a modern-day win.

JW Anderson Long Sleeve Rugby Shirt 

Celebrating pragmatic and honest design, J.W. Anderson’s latest collection takes a personal approach to design with easy-to-wear silhouettes that balance signature branding, unique elements and high-quality fabrications. This long sleeve rugby shirt is crafted from cotton and cut in an oversized silhouette and featuring an oversized logo in black.

Thom Browne Polo Rugby Shirt

Thom Browne creates innovative and forward-thinking designs that balance signature elements and classic silhouettes. This long sleeve rugby shirt is crafted from cotton in a jersey weave, featuring a bold striped pattern, sharp pointed collar and half button fastening.

Polo Ralph Lauren Regular-fit Rugby Shirt 

Collegiate styles are key to the Polo Ralph Lauren design codes and this shirt takes centre stage for the label’s SS19 collection. It’s crafted from a cotton blend fabric with long striped sleeves, a contrasting collar and front buttons for a nod to the early rugby kit mentioned above.

We feature the White Stuff Crossfield and the Boden Hamersley among others in this guide to 5 Must-Have Men’s Rugby Shirts.