[Lieutenant]

Big fan of Barbarian Rugby; been wearing them for years. Great Fall and early spring wear; they also offer a short sleeve version of their rugby but, due to the weight of the fabric, I find that the sleeves like to stick out (they don't drape)

 

[xcubbies]

Like this fullback?

 

[Doctor Damage]

I have two Barbarian shirts and my dad has one and we've been wearing them for years. They are excellent shirts.

 

[nonartful dodger]

I thought this might be an opportune time for a first comment. I owned a few LE rugbys in high school and college (the '80s) and loved them. I switched over to RL and BB rugbys, but I've gotten tired of the logos. I recently purchased the less expensive track stripe rugby (they're priced around $29.00) from Columbiaknit. I can't convey how pleased I am with it.

The fabric feels as thick as a RL, maybe not quite as soft. At that price point, it isn't as weighty as the old LE, but I'll get much more wear out of it here in Florida. They do offer the heavier rugby at around $56.00, which is still an excellent price. Otherwise, the construction feels as stout as I remember.

Not to sound like a rep, but I strongly recommend Columbiaknit. I would try Barbarian, but I just prefer a knitted cuff over hemmed.

 

[Danny]

I'm sorry, have I missed something, where does one go to order a 'Barbarian' rugby?

 

[andy b.]

I'm not sure if these types of links are allowed, but Mr. K will edit my post if needed.

Barbarian main link:

American Rugby (cheapest place I found to order the Barbarian):
https://www.americanrugby.com/

Columbia Knit:
https://www.usa-wear.com/rugbymens.htm

Andy B.

 

[hardline_42]

I checked them out, and they look more like current LE Rugbys, than ones of years past. The first thing I noticed was the elastic cuffs. They look exactly like current LE offerings, but nothing like the Barbarian or old LE offerings.
Andy B.

I'm wearing a vintage, Made in USA, LE rugby right now. The sleeves have knit cuffs.

 

[Bricktop]

Maybe a back will come along and say something stupid?

Hey now! I'd insult you, but you wouldn't understand it. :biggrin: And even if you did, you'd never catch me! :icon_smile_big:

 

[Roderick St. John]

This former lock agrees.

As does this former Fly-Half...

My old team jersey was stolen not long after I stopped playing many, many, years ago and after seeing this thread I ordered a Barbarian Red/White stripe, just to see if it was the same jersey my club team played in 35-40 years ago... it sure looked like the original Barbarian "Reds" so I thought, why not. I just received it this week and I swear it is exactly as I remember! Now, if I could just turn back the clock on my body by 35 years and get back on the pitch!

 

[duckboot]

My hide has been saved by many a prop. None pay for drinks when I'm around.

Duckboot, retired hooker

I love Barbarian jerseys. Every single game I played (maybe 300) was in one. They wear.

Not a fan of the new techy jerseys - and I doubt many 41 year old props are.

 

[Kingstonian]

I note Rugby comes in at number 95 on the list of 'Stuff White People Like'

''

They love Rugby for a number of reasons, the first of which is the fact that it is not very popular in North America. In fact, it is even less popular than soccer which gives a white person that all important edge in the contest to see who likes the most obscure sport. Though this is important, it is not the real reason why white people love the sport so much.Rugby's greatest appeal lies in its uniforms(sic).Unlike other sports where jerseys are made out of nylon or mesh, Rugby jerseys are like thick sweatshirts with collars! In fact there is no other jersey on earth that can move so seamlessly from the playing field to the farmers market.''

Interesting.

I await an entry for 'Internet Clothing Forums'​

 

[ajo]

^ As an ex open side flanker I am happy to say that this 'White Person' would rank Rugby a lot higher that 95 and on Friday night the Super Rugby competition kicks off. "go the reds"

 

[andy b.]

Well, the Columbia Knit Rugby arrived today. Sadly, it would best be described as a "long sleeve knit shirt", as it pales in comparison to the Barbarian Rugby, and LE Rugbies of old. I am not sure how long ago Columbia was the "original manufacturer of Lands End Rugby shirts", but it was either pre-1980, or post-1994 because no heavyweight LE Rugby I ever owned was the same as this Columbia one. If you want something along the lines of the original heavy-duty Rugby shirts, I would have to pass on the Columbia version.

At this point I am finished purchasing samples of Rugby shirts. I am sticking with Barbarian.

Andy B.

 

[VictorRomeo]

Maybe a back will come along and say something stupid?

The game has moved on from days of cotton jerseys. It's faster, harder, more intense and technical. A cotton shirt as much and all as I still love to wear them, could not keep up with the modern game. I see Barbarian too are moving with the times and have a synthetic 'Pro' range for actual match play.

Stupid enough for you?!

 

[hardline_42]

Well, the Columbia Knit Rugby arrived today. Sadly, it would best be described as a "long sleeve knit shirt", as it pales in comparison to the Barbarian Rugby, and LE Rugbies of old. I am not sure how long ago Columbia was the "original manufacturer of Lands End Rugby shirts", but it was either pre-1980, or post-1994 because no heavyweight LE Rugby I ever owned was the same as this Columbia one. If you want something along the lines of the original heavy-duty Rugby shirts, I would have to pass on the Columbia version.

At this point I am finished purchasing samples of Rugby shirts. I am sticking with Barbarian.

Andy B.

Thanks for putting that to rest. I'm a big fan of my old LLB and LE rugbys and I'm sad to hear that Columbiaknit's offerings aren't what they used to be. Looks like I'll have to check out the Barbarians.

 

[xcubbies]

Earlier this week I received two pair of the Barbarian JSL rugby shorts. I was finding it next to impossible to locate all cotton, heavyweight shorts of an appropriate length for an older guy for exercising- these meet the criteria. You can find them for about 40% less than what Orvis charges elsewhere on the WWW.

 

[Green3]

The game has moved on from days of cotton jerseys. It's faster, harder, more intense and technical. A cotton shirt as much and all as I still love to wear them, could not keep up with the modern game. I see Barbarian too are moving with the times and have a synthetic 'Pro' range for actual match play.

Stupid enough for you?!

I got out around 2003 and tech type jerseys were in by then, but I was no longer playing 1st XV and didn't have to wear them.

I don't know that the game would be that much different in the old jerseys - they were hotter and heavier to be sure, and easier to grab.

The game is faster, and likely more technical as well. In some ways it is harder, notably the collisions. In terms of substitutions and padding, I would say it isn't.

I think at the non-elite club level cotton jerseys are good because they probably make tackling a little easier and lighten the impact.

I maintain that the prop gut is best concealed in a baggy cotton jersey.

 

[DoghouseReilly]

Thanks for putting that to rest. I'm a big fan of my old LLB and LE rugbys and I'm sad to hear that Columbiaknit's offerings aren't what they used to be. Looks like I'll have to check out the Barbarians.

If you read enough threads around here, everything is nothing like it used to be. I never had an old-school LE rugby but have seen them when thrifting. They don't seem to be any more substancial than my Columbia Knit, FWIW.

 

[Epaminondas]

I never had an old-school LE rugby but have seen them when thrifting. They don't seem to be any more substancial than my Columbia Knit, FWIW.

Then it's probably not old enough - the LE rugby jerseys of the of the late 80's (mine were circa. 1986-7) were pretty substantial - almost as thick/heavy as the current Barbarian offerings and I know they were thicker/better than the ones I actually wore when playing in college which I think had a brand name of "Maxtor" and were "Made in the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho" (that's actually what the label read). I have another LE rugby from the late-nineties and it has shorter cuffs and is much thinner/lighter weight. I don't know when LE changed them, but when I got the more recent LE make, I was surpised at the difference.

 

[Tilton]

Earlier this week I received two pair of the Barbarian JSL rugby shorts. I was finding it next to impossible to locate all cotton, heavyweight shorts of an appropriate length for an older guy for exercising- these meet the criteria. You can find them for about 40% less than what Orvis charges elsewhere on the WWW.

Great shorts. I scored a pair of Canterbury of New Zealand shorts of a similar build in khaki once. They are great boating shorts. All of my black Barbarian shorts from college rugby have the crotch ripped out, though. I need to get some for the gym. My legs are too muscular to hide beneath these 10" inseam monstrosities sold at sporting goods stores and my legs/butt are too big to fit into serious running shorts.