What to sport when you’re watching the Six Nations (or not).

At first glance, rugby doesn’t have much to do with fashion. Rugby is, after all, about tree-sized men hurtling down a pitch while grasping an ellipsoidal ball called Gilbert with the aim of defending it from other tree-sized men. In this context, clothes are perfunctory, a practical way of identifying your teammates.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Rugby shirts have become a rather stylish trend off the field of play in recent seasons, thanks to a number of designers turning their hand to them. And happily, you don’t have to be a man of oak-like stature to pull one off. They look good (better, dare we say) when they’re off the paddock and paired with chinos or boots (not those type of boots – see below). And as England take on Wales at Twickenham this weekend in the second round of the Six Nations, we thought we would present a selection of rugby-inspired shirts from some of our favourite designers.

Kent & Curwen has been around since the 1920s, and is known for its sports-inspired clothing that often incorporates the signature English rose emblem, as seen on this striped cotton-jersey rugby shirt. The soft red and black stripes of the vintage-inspired shirt will be best paired with a neutral colour to avoid a visual biff. This rugged cotton-canvas shearling jacket, also from Kent & Curwen, is a sure shot.

Rugby shirts are not, usually, made from expensive cashmere, but this sweater from The Elder Statesman is not your average rugby shirt. In tonal blues with a pleasantly contrasting burnt-orange collar, it’s soft enough to sleep in, but is worth showing off out of the house, too. Toughen everything up a bit with some leather hiking boots. These ones from Red Wing Shoes will withstand a beating. They are best not worn in the front row of a scrum, but they’ll work perfectly well if you’re watching the game in the pub.

Although most rugby shirts are horizontally striped to signify a team’s colours, a plain one is a suitable sartorial choice if you’re looking for something less shouty. This navy and white jersey from Polo Ralph Lauren is as timeless as sportswear-inspired clothing gets. The same goes for these stone-coloured chinos from Parisian brand Officine Generale. Put them together and you’ve got a go-to weekend outfit that, as well as being rugby-game appropriate, will also look on point when that’s the last thing on your mind.

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