Blue Bulls Company CEO Alfons Meyer has suggested he was surprised that Sanzaar gave the go ahead for the Pretoria side and the Highlanders to wear such similar kits in Saturday’s match at Loftus.
The Vodacom Bulls hosted the Highlanders at Loftus, but when the sides took to the field they were in almost identical colour kit, which made it nearly impossible to differentiate between the teams.
The jersey clash caused widespread confusion for players, match officials and fans watching both inside the stadium and at home. Many viewers took to social media to question how the Highlanders’ away jersey was approved for this specific encounter despite it bearing a striking resemblance to the Bulls’ regular blue kit.
The Bulls ultimately compromised by changing into a yellow and white strip for the second half.
In an interview with Netwerk24, a surprised Meyer admits he found it strange that Sanzaar gave the go ahead for the Highlanders to wear blue against the Bulls.
‘You could see in the first half some of the players were struggling with it. Luckily we had the yellow jerseys on hand at Loftus,’ said Meyer.
He added that the yellow and white kit was set to be a once off as it was originally designed for their away match against the Waratahs on March 21.
‘This year we didn’t want to make a home and away kit, as well as a Captain America jersey. Before the competition started we asked the Waratahs if they would consider playing in their white jerseys when we tour there but they refused.
‘So the plan was for the yellow jersey to be an exclusive one with only 1 000 produced, but now it looks like there won’t be a supporters’ jersey. Our team will wear the yellow and white jersey against the Waratahs and there may only be about 30 of it [produced].’
The Bulls start their four-match tour of Australasian against the Reds in Brisbane this weekend, followed by their games against the Waratahs (21 March), Hurricanes (27 March and Chiefs (4 April).
Normally, I think people make too big a deal out of Jersey clashes but this is absolutely ridiculous… #BULvHIG #SuperRugby
— Tom Vinicombe (@TomVinicombe) March 7, 2020
All-time great kit clash in the #BULvHIG game. pic.twitter.com/t1Alv0C5lH
— Paul Cully (@paulcullystuff) March 7, 2020
Who is the one letting these teams play in the same colour jerseys? If a team’s home jersey doesn’t clash when they’re playing away, why not wear it? #BULvHIG pic.twitter.com/x3fnO0PazQ
— Jason Gilbey (@JasonGilbs) March 7, 2020
The worst Super Rugby kit clash yet? ?#SuperRugby #BULvHIG pic.twitter.com/xrfkMitgYo
— Superbru (@Superbru) March 7, 2020
The uniform colour clash for this Bulls-Highlanders game is truly something to behold. #BULvHIG #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/n8nBXaVpWU
— Jordan Patu (@Jordan_Patu) March 7, 2020
Ref should not let the players back out on the field for the 2nd half without one team changing kit. Unacceptable. #BULvHIG
— G-Mac (@GreggMac11) March 7, 2020
They work only on facial recognition ?#BULvHIG
— WikiLeaks (@WiekieLeak) March 7, 2020
#BULvHIG #SuperRugby are taking the piss with this jersey clash. How they were both allowed to take the field wearing virtually identical kits staggers belief.
— Christian Hansen (@cpHansen3) March 7, 2020
How ridiculous is it that we keep insisting on wearing those NZ ‘away’ jersey’s even though they are clearly similar to the oppositions?!? So much so in this case, the home team changed at half-time! #BULvHIG #SuperRugby pic.twitter.com/SfLVLLyyct
— I’m Just An Ordinary Average MacGuy (@alanhsmith) March 8, 2020
Photo: @BullsRugby/Twitter
