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Kickstart Your Summer With the Best Rugby Shirts for Men
Our editors' picks are more Ivy League than Rugby League
After years of distressed, grungy, slouchy ‘fits, menswear is returning to tradition. The preppy, old money aesthetic that last peaked in the Nineties has regained its status, and by far the quickest and easiest way to adopt the air of a man with a healthy bank balance is to throw on something born from the red brick sports societies. A cricket jumper, say, a polo, or (drum roll) a rugby shirt.
Despite an early 19th century genesis, rugby shirts didn’t really make it off the playing field until the Fifties – first amongst fans of the sport, then with Ivy League students across the pond. Consequently, the shirt style became synonymous with prep, joining the ranks of Oxford shirts, boat shoes and chinos.
Fast forward to the Nineties and Noughties, and it was hip hop stars like André 3000 and Kanye West espousing the collared, traditionally cotton silhouette, rocking it with big chains, big jeans and big, big energy. Regardless of how you plan on styling yours, we highly recommend opting for one of the 13 rugby shirts we've spotlighted below.
Drake’s
Don’t play rugby in your Drake’s rugby shirt. Instead, wear it to dinner, under a suit and, dare we say it... collar popped?
£225; drakes.com
Dickies
Designed for skateboarders, by a pro-skateboarder (Sydney-born, LA-based Jake Hayes), this Dickies rugby is next-level cosy.
£65; dickieslife.com
Billionaire Boys Club
If hip-hop culture brought you here, a rugby from Pharrell and Nigo’s line seems suitable. Luckily, Ssense has a very nice one in stock.
£150; ssense.com
Story Mfg
British marque Story Mfg makes the shirt style its own through the agency of pastel hues and asymmetrical star-shaped elbow patches.
£275; thehipstore.co.uk
M&S Collection
Big bronze stripes bring a timeless look to M&S Collection’s clean-cut pure cotton rugby.
£35; marksandspencer.com
Carhartt WIP
This Carhartt WIP rugby stocked at John Lewis is more ravewear than workwear.
£110; johnlewis.com
Everlane
Everlane invites minimalists to join in on the rugby shirt boom with its premium-weight rugby formed from organic cotton.
£77; everlane.com
Aimé Leon Dore
New prep spearhead Aimé Leon Dore presents a beachy rugby distinguished by an embroidered wordmark for SS23.
£195; aimeleondore.com
Tommy Hilfiger
In collaboration with pop luminary Shawn Mendes, Tommy Hilfiger goes full Americana via the rugby silhouette.
£180; tommy.com
Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo Ralph Lauren takes us back to its heyday, the Nineties, with bold colours and an embroidered emblem.
£225; selfridges.com
Nike
Nike: Jack of all trades, master of everything. Rugby shirts included, as evidenced by this sleek, simple jersey cotton offering.
£74.99; zalando.co.uk
Gant
A sunset gradient graces this Gant rugby, making for a design that’s as calming as it is nice to wear.
£98; fenwick.co.uk
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