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The controversial Highlanders jersey colour change will not be revealed until the team runs onto Carisbrook for the final time on Friday night.
The Highlanders franchise has confirmed the new jersey - believed to be light green with a dark blue strip down the sides and no trace of maroon - will be worn as a once-off this season on Friday night against the Western Force in Dunedin, ahead of a permanent move to the new strip next season.
Since news of the change became public on Friday, opposition in the deep south has been fierce, with social media sites Twitter and Facebook buzzing with criticism.
A group on Facebook 'Keep the Highlanders in Blue, Gold and Maroon' had almost 1900 likes (as at 2.30pm Monday) since being set up on Friday night, while the Highlanders official Facebook page has been bombarded with criticism.
An Otago Daily Times website poll has 90 per cent of 1473 votes (as at 2.30pm Monday) opposed to changing the team's colours away from the traditional southern colours of blue, gold and maroon - representing the Otago, North Otago and Southland rugby unions that back the Highlanders.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark said today that while the new-look colours would be introduced fully next year, the team will play in the new colours on Friday night, and jerseys would be signed and gifted to fans at Carisbrook.
Clark would not confirm the widely speculated change to green but said the new colours reflected a time of positive change for the Highlanders.
"We believe the time is right for change. We have a new coach, new players, new expectations, new and renewed fans, and next year, we will have a new home stadium," said Clark.
"We hope that Highlanders fans in our region and around the country will continue to support a great coach and a great team, support the new colours and make the Highlanders franchise strong and enduring."
Clark responded to critics who have wondered about the relevance of a green playing strip for the Otago-Southland region.
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Originally Posted by James
