England rugby ended its long association with Nike on Wednesday when its "new Canterbury kits were unveiled" ahead of November's autumn internationals, according to Nick Pearce of the London TELEGRAPH. The home kit of all-white shirt and shorts and blue socks represents what Canterbury describe as a "back-to-basics feel." While the away kit -- "regal purple and gold detailing" -- displays a "resemblance" to the home shirt worn by Arsenal in the '05-06 season. The traditional look has been "enhanced" by the inclusion of midnight blue socks, which have not been worn since England's pre-World Cup summer tour of '07. As is now tradition with the Rugby Football Union, the England Sevens teams "will wear unique designs for their home and away shirts," which feature an "ultra-modern reworking of the red rose emblem to allude to the traditions of England Rugby, whilst also looking ahead to the growing popularity and bright future of the shortened game." The England home kit is on sale now ahead of the men's team's "daunting autumn programme" that includes tests against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand (TELEGRAPH, 9/19).
