‘Rugbycore’ touches down again as Rodd & Gunn launches second collection with Gilbert

New Zealand-based heritage brand Rodd & Gunn has once again joined forces with 200 year-old rugby ball maker Gilbert on a collaboration collection launching today, 5 September, just in time for the start of the Rugby World Cup in France this Friday.

Tapping in to the current ‘rugbycore’ trend, the ‘United by Rugby’ collection follows hot in the footsteps of the launch of Parisian fashion brand AMI’s limited edition collaboration collection with France rugby union player Antoine Dupont – which launched last week.

Northern Irish designer JW Anderson also recently turned his attention to ‘rugbycore’ when he showed his SS24 collection during Milan Fashion Week in June 2023.

Rodd & Gunn’s first collection with Gilbert launched in February 2023, and the second limited edition line promises a curated selection of garments that “capture the essence of rugby culture”, while infusing Rodd & Gunn’s distinctive style.

The collection features shirts, polos, hoodies, bomber jackets, gilets and chinos. A standout item is the ‘Ravenhill’ pullover hoodie which is adorned with the national flags of the nations taking part in the Rugby World Cup.

Rodd & Gunn CEO Mike Beagley commented: “We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Gilbert and unveil the much-anticipated second drop. This collection not only commemorates Gilbert’s remarkable 200-year journey but also celebrates the universal passion that rugby ignites among fans around the world.

Each piece in the collection is a tribute to the sport’s heritage and the value it embodies.”

The collection can now be purchased on the Rodd & Gunn website, as well as in its flagship store at 3 Conduit Street in London’s Mayfair and in selected wholesale accounts.

The second drop coincides with a period of continuous expansion for Rodd & Gunn, which was established in 1987 in Auckland, New Zealand. In the UK and Ireland, the brand has established 40 wholesale accounts in just three seasons. It has also recently established partnerships with Arnott’s in Dublin, Takashimaya in Singapore and Bloomingdales in the USA.