Wales and Ireland to ditch traditional red and green clashes to aid colour-blind rugby union fans

Colour blind rugby followers and players will no longer have to suffer through Ireland-Wales matches in silence, with World Rugby planning to ditch any red-green kit clashes by the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Distinguishing between red and green is a common issue for colour blind people, with the condition affecting around one in 12 men and one in 200 women globally including World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont, with the matter understood to be close to Beaumont's heart.

Fixtures between Ireland and Wales, playing in green and red respectively, have proven particularly problematic for colour blind supporters. One rugby supporter informed the Telegraph Sport that the difference between green and red kits was often harder to spot when watching matches on television, while night matches under floodlights were notably more difficult. Another noted that the recent series between the Lions and South Africa had proven problematic given South Africa's darker shade of green kit. Others highlighted how the NFL in American football ensures that one of the two sides in each match plays predominantly in white so supporters can differentiate between the two sides.

World Rugby, working with the organisation Colour Blind Awareness, are now aiming for all matches by the 2027 Rugby World Cup to avoid pitting two teams together playing in green and red, with one of the sides made to wear an alternative kit.

There is no such plan in place for next year's Six Nations, given the tournament is run by a separate organisation. Other international teams who also wear predominantly red strips include the British and Irish Lions, Canada, Chile, Spain and Tonga.

Telegraph Sport understands that the reason changes will not be introduced until 2027 is because plans are already in place for the upcoming World Cup in 2023 in France, with teams having finalised kit designs and agreed commercial terms. "It makes sense to do it when we have a clear runway," a World Rugby spokesperson said, adding that measures could be introduced in other competitions sanctioned by World Rugby before the 2027 World Cup.

World Rugby have identified a number of areas where the sport could be improved to help colour blind viewers last month, including kit clashes, equipment colours, stadium and ticket information, TV coverage, workplace issues and external information such as sponsorship and emergency services.

Beaumont, speaking as part of World Rugby's Colour Blind Awareness Day last month, said: “In many regards rugby is one of the most accessible and inclusive sports, but colour blindness is largely misunderstood and the challenges for those who play, coach, officiate and support our sport is often overlooked.

"As someone who experiences those challenges first hand, I am delighted that World Rugby is launching comprehensive guidance for all levels of the game that place visually-impaired considerations at the heart of our decision-making.

"We hope to raise awareness and change culture through positive actions that don’t just address some of the more obvious challenges such as kit colours, but consider the whole match-day experience whether that be wayfinding, digital signage, branding or ticketing."

Former Scotland captain Chris Paterson previously struggled with the condition during his days as a player.

“I remember playing at night-time when we played for Edinburgh and Scarlets would come up in their dark red,” Paterson explained.

“I remember a couple of times making a line-break on a counter attack, running into what I thought was space between two of my own men and just getting [tackled].

“Your focus is on the ball, you’re running and scanning the whole time.... [it’s] because there’s not that real clear division in our eyes, I suppose.”

'It can be a shock to realise what you thought was red was brown or green'

By Jason Burt

Liverpool against Manchester United last January was a difficult game. Not just because it failed to live up to expectation and petered out into a goalless draw that represented a missed opportunity for both sides.

It was also especially difficult if, like me, you are colour-blind. United’s ‘legend earth green’ third strip clashed horribly with Liverpool’s all-red home kit. At times it was simply impossible, with the backdrop of the pitch making it even more difficult of course, to differentiate between the players. The green, the red. They looked the same. It all merged into one.

The only concession made to the colour-blind was United wearing white socks. But in the blur of action that made them still hard to follow. Players crowding around each other at set-pieces made it nigh on impossible. It was even worse for those watching on television.

That red/green combination is a classic problem for the colour blind and it is even more difficult when teams wear strips of all one colour. There are also elements of those colours that are tricky – so it is hard to make out blues and purples – so shading is another issue.

But it is not the only clash that causes problems. Yellows and greens are problematic – I even find it hard to make out a goalkeeper sometimes – as are shades of blue (Chelsea’s ‘arctic blue’ kit caused difficulties last season). It is also sometimes hard to follow the numbers on the backs of shirts if they are not clearly enough defined.

Still images are usually not difficult but when the players are moving around the pitch it can be very confusing. The brain also trains you to effectively ‘guess’ colours as it tells you that, for example, a certain club play in a certain colour so – logically – that is what it is. On other occasions, I rely on simply identifying the player.

It is hard to explain. There is no point asking a colour-blind person “what colour is this or that” because it does not work like that. It is a bit more subtle although, when a colour is pointed out, it can be a shock to realise what you thought was red was brown or green.

Football and snooker consider changes 

By Jeremy Wilson 

The English Football League is considering regulation that would see them follow World Rugby and the Premier League in stopping kit clashes that prevent colour blind people from distinguishing between the teams.

The EFL are examining potential regulatory amendments over their current guidance which has been drawn up in conjunction with the Uefa and the Football Association.

World Snooker is also considering how it can ensure that fans of the sport, either inside an arena or watching on television, are not being adversely affected.

There are several colour blind snooker players, including former world champions Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon, and there is already a rule whereby a player can check the colour of the ball on the relatively rare occasion when the green or brown may end up among several reds. 

The Premier League specifically addresses the issue in its rulebook and says that clubs should wear kits that provide a sufficient contrast for colour blind players, match officials and spectators. They have bespoke online software which allows them to identify potential clashes.

Despite their rules, there were five occasions in the Premier League last season when, according to the charity, Colour Blind Awareness, there was a clash that ran contrary to the guidance. This included the match between Manchester United and Liverpool when respective dark green and red shirts were worn. It is understood that it is an issue which has also been raised by television companies, who are mindful that alienating a significant number of viewers could be detrimental to audiences and potentially also advertising.

In Italy’s Serie A from next season, teams will not be allowed to switch to green kits. Plymouth Argyle in League One and Yeovil Town in the National League are among those English clubs who play predominantly in green.

Kathryn Albany-Ward, the chief executive of Colour Blind Awareness, which has worked with the FA, Uefa, the EFL and World Rugby to draw up guidance, said that enforcement was needed.

“It is not necessary to get rid of a home kit - you just need a strong contrast with your second kit for when clashes occur,” she said. “It is a very easily avoided problem. Most of the time, all that is needed is goodwill and forward planning. Most teams will have at least one colour blind player in their squad and fans will switch off if they can’t recognise the difference between the two teams.

“It’s brilliant to see what World Rugby has done and we hope other sports will now follow. Kit deals often get signed off several years in advance but all you have to do is say that, from a certain time, the guidelines will be enforced. The momentum is growing.”