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Georgina Robinson
November 18, 2011 - 6:53PM
A green Australia... Ed Jenkins models the new strip.
The Australian Rugby Union called it an ‘‘exciting new look’’. One eloquent rugby fan called it ‘‘parrot s––t green’’. (ed: We can call it Parrot Shit Green here.... )
The most diplomatic thing you might say about Australia’s fluorescent green new Sevens jersey, unveiled today, is that it is as garish as the tournament’s location, the Gold Coast.
New Australian captain Ed Jenkins said he liked the change from traditional green and gold.
“All the boys are really excited to be given our own identity with this new-look jersey and kit,” Jenkins said.
“It might be a little different to what Australian rugby jerseys have traditionally looked like but Australia is as much green as it is gold and this colour is perfectly suited to the excitement and vibe created at Sevens tournaments.
“The Sevens game is growing in its own right and we saw with England last season that a new jersey adds a new energy to a team.
“We have a younger group than most in the HSBC Sevens World Series and I think this jersey really suits what we’re about.”
Fans on Twitter begged to differ.
Some likened it to vomit while another suggested the only rugby fans who would wear the jersey were ‘‘confused Irishmen’’.
The ARU’s Sevens general manager, Peter Friend, said the jersey change was intentionally bold.
“Sevens is exciting, daring and played at a fever pitch,” Friend said.
“Consistent with this ... the new colour scheme is bright, explosive and readily recognisable.”
Australia’s World Cup champion women’s Sevens team will also don the same fluorescent outfits.
The ARU and the International Rugby Board are making a concerted push to raise the profile of the Sevens format ahead of its admittance to the Olympic Games from 2016.
Next week’s tournament, called Fever Pitch, will be held over two days at Skilled Park.
Organisers want supporters to come in fancy dress, a theme enthusiastically adopted in the Wellington Sevens series each year.
The Sevens format is a highly compressed form of rugby.
Each side fields seven players made up of three forwards and four backs.
They play seven-minute halves with a one-minute half time break, while the scoring system is the same as the 15-a-side game.
All conversions must be taken within 40 seconds of the try being scored and must be taken as a drop goal.
http://www.goldcoastfeverpitch.com.au/
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz1e6WGNx1r
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Originally Posted by WF1964
Supporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
