Buying a replica rugby kit is a great way to enthuse your child to emulate their heroes in rugby.
It’s incredible what pulling on a national or pro team jersey can do to confidence and enthusiasm levels.
That little bit of magic can be incredible to watch, whether your child is playing or watching rugby.
However, kids replica rugby kit isn’t cheap, so here’s our top hacks to help you buy the right kit for your child.
Hack 1: Decide on Home vs Away kit
Professional rugby teams have two kits. In a match, one team will wear their “home” kit if the game is taking place on their grounds, whereas the visiting team will wear their “away” kit.
The colours and designs of the kits can vary depending on the year in which they are released.
Make sure your child isn’t expecting one specific shirt!
Hack 2: Choose a darker colour
Choosing whether to go home or away will determine the colour of the replica kit for your child.
This is worth considering carefully as it could be a determining factor in its longevity and how much laundry you end up doing.
Whether your child wants to play rugby in the kit or perhaps wear it to school for a non-school uniform day, the lighter the kit, the more likely it is to pick up stains.
Purchasing a darker replica kit for your child to train in might be a more wise choice than purchasing a white kit (take note England fans!)
Hack 3: Short-sleeve lasts longer
Kids sized replica rugby jerseys can come in a long-sleeve or short-sleeve design, and, if you do not want to buy both, you might wonder which one to buy.
Long-sleeved jerseys are better for colder weather, however, as your child grows, the sleeves will become too short for the arms.
Short-sleeved jerseys are better to wear during warmer periods and thermal tops can be worn under to provide warmth during the winter.
Hence, the short-sleeved jersey might be the better choice out of the two.
Hack 4: Know when to go sportswear vs fashion
Designed to withstand physical activity, replica kits can be worn during training as well as for fashion purposes.
However, if there is no intention for your child to wear the replica kit for training, then there are other ways of showing support to your team through attire, which can save you money in the process.
Supermarkets often sell basic t-shirts and hoodies, with designs that reference competitions such as the Rugby World Cup or Six Nations and also specific teams.
Hack 5: Ignore this seasons kit to save money
An in-season, kids replica rugby kit can cost as much as £120.
For some parents, especially those who do not share the same enthusiasm for rugby as their child, this price might furrow some brows.
When purchasing a replica rugby kit, some options can be chosen to make the price more affordable, for instance purchasing a kit from a previous season or buying a kit second-hand.
A downside to buying a kit from previous seasons is that stores might have limited sizes, hence finding the right size for your child might be more challenging than it would be with buying an in-season kit.
Hack 6: Be spending savvy
Rugby tops tend to be the most expensive options. Look for other options such as t-shirts, shorts or socks if your budget doesn’t stretch.
Kids grow quickly, so looking on Ebay and other secondhand sites can often save your loads of money, so long as you don’t want the most up to date designs.
Ready to buy?
Head over to our articles on the best kids replica rugby shirts to make your selection now!
