Tartan takeover to run all season long
The shelf life of Scotland’s fastest-selling rugby kit is to be extended for the rest of the season.
The Macron-designed home navy and alternate white kits, and their popular tartan flanks, collar and sleeve detailing are retained for the year ahead, with the Rugby World Cup logo replaced by national team sponsor BT and BT Sport for the first time since their landmark sponsorship.
The kit will make its first home appearance at BT Murrayfield next month in Scotland’s summer Test match against Italy on Saturday 29 August – tickets from £15 for adults and U12s go free with a paying adult.
The Test is the third in a four-match summer schedule for the national team and follows away games against Ireland in Dublin (Saturday 15 August) and Italy in Turin (Saturday 22 August), before concluding preparations against France in Paris at the start of September (5th).
Dominic McKay, Director of Commercial Operations, Communications and Public Affairs, said: “The response to Scotland’s new playing jersey for the Rugby World Cup 2015 is unprecedented.
“Fans all over the world are buying the kit faster than ever so we’re pleased to reveal that our tartan style will be a prominent feature of the Scotland team all season long, with our Summer Test match against Italy the first chance to see it on home soil.
“We’re also delighted to see the jersey accompanied by the brand of main sponsor BT the first time since our landmark partnership began, a partnership that is helping us do great things for rugby in Scotland.”
The Scottish Rugby tartan features on the national team shirt for the first time, 25 years since its creation as part of the 1990 Grand Slam celebrations, with the new jersey a focal point for a supporter-led #tartantakeover campaign.
Brendan Dick, Director of BT Scotland said: “It is an exciting year for rugby and we’re delighted to be on the front of the Scotland rugby shirt for the first time as well as broadcasting the Scotland v Italy game live and exclusive on BT Sport, showcasing our partnership and demonstrating BT’s support of Scottish Rugby.”
Macron’s UK and Ireland Sports Marketing Manager, Ross Cook, added “The reaction from the Scottish fans to the Rugby World Cup kits has been phenomenal. We have already launched four separate production runs to keep up with demand.
“As a Scotsman I am really excited about the 2015/16 season, which has the potential to be a historic benchmark for Scottish rugby. Everyone at Macron is proud to be part of it.”
The new kit will go on pre-sale this Tuesday 28 July (9am) and on general sale first at the Scottish Rugby store at BT Murrayfield on Friday at 9am (31 July), and all Macron stockists the following day (Saturday 1 August).
The new kit is available as a player’s body-fit replica, standard fit poly and cotton in both male and female sizing, as well as in baby and kid box sets, allowing the whole family to wear tartan with pride.
Scotland Summer Tests
Saturday 15 August: Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin (kick-off 5pm) – live on Sky Sports Saturday 22 August: Italy v Scotland, Stadio Olimpico, Turin (kick-off 7pm BST) – live on BT Sport Saturday 29 August: Scotland v Italy, BT Murrayfield (kick-off 3.15pm) – live on BT Sport Saturday 5 September: France v Scotland, Stade de France, Paris, (kick-off 7pm BST) – live on BT Sport
Rugby World Cup 2015
The final 31-man squad will leave for Gloucester on Wednesday 16 September ahead of their opening Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool match against Japan at Kingsholm (Wednesday 23 September).
The Scots will then face USA at Elland Road in Leeds (Sunday 27 September) followed by South Africa and Samoa on consecutive Saturdays (3 and 10 October) at St James Park, Newcastle.