Commencing a new era, Umbro have announced a new partnership with the Republic of Ireland national football team (FAI), and have followed that up with the reveal of the nation’s new home and away kits, with an on-pitch debut set to take place in the match against England on November 12.
It’s an entirely fresh look for the Republic of Ireland, with their contract with New Balance ending and being taken up by Umbro, a move that also coincides with the end of their sponsorship deal with Three, meaning the new home and away shirts from the Double Diamond will arrive in a clean, sponsor-less look, something that’s sure to please Irish fans. That is so long as their FA don’t make a new sponsorship deal that is…
But for now, the announcement that Umbro will supply the national team – men’s and women’s – from senior through to all underage levels- with kit, training apparel and equipment from November 2020 for a 6-year period, means that the new designs remain untainted by a sponsor, leaving a clear, crisp canvas.
And that canvas sees a classic green base for the home shirt with white trim. But there are significant differences between the men’s and the women’s designs, with a sublimated graphic running through the body of the latter and different collars featuring on each also.
It’s a similar story on the away shirt, although the sublimated graphic this time only features on the men’s shirt, while the collars are only subtly different. The detail on each collar is lifted from the border of the club crest, offering a strong connection to the identity of the nation and the specific teams.
The new Republic of Ireland kit for both men and women can be purchased from faishop.com and Elverys Sports from 5 November.
