Give a fan, family member or friend something to remember this Christmas with our guide to the best rugby gifts
Christmas is less than a week away, but don’t worry if you’re struggling for last-minute inspiration. The Rugby World team has assembled this guide to the best rugby gifts for players and fans alike to make sure you buy the most memorable presents this Christmas.
It’s an eclectic list featuring clothing, playing accessories, wall art and a bottle of rum endorsed by a Welsh rugby legend. We’ve also catered for a variety of different budgets and tastes, for fans, players and kids alike – these are gifts your friends and family will actually want to unwrap on Christmas Day.
So read on to make your festive shopping a load easier in the run-up to Christmas. Whoever you’re buying for, our guide to the best rugby gifts has got you covered. It’s also not too late to drop a few hints to your loved ones if there’s something here that takes your fancy.
Subscribe to Rugby World
RUGBY WORLD SUBSCRIPTION
Why subscribe? Not only do you get the world’s number one rugby mag delivered direct to your door every month – and never have to worry about missing an issue again – but you’ll also save loads on the cover price. Whether you’re buying a gift for your favourite rugby fan or treating yourself, this really is the gift that keeps on giving.
Price: from £21.99 for six months
Best rugby gifts under £20
VINTAGE RUGBY AD POSTER
It’s art in the form of old school rugby adverts, the kind we used to feature in the pages of Rugby World when print advertising was a thing. This is a great little wall feature for an office or garage – can take you back to the good old days.
Price: from £19.99
ENGLAND RUGBY WIRELESS CHARGER
Sports clubs will happily stamp their logos on all sorts of trinkets but – unless you’re a blazer-clad administrator – how much use does anyone really get out of rugby-themed cufflinks or ties? This England Rugby wireless charger, however, is a genuinely practical gift for a fan, capable of both powering up your phone and telling the rest of the office who you support.
Price: £20.00
ODDBALLS UNDERWEAR
If you want to be even more subtle about your rugby affiliations, nobody ever need know that your underwear is emblazoned with your favourite team’s badge. Launched in 2014, OddBalls partners with the RFU, WRU, British & Irish Lions and many others on its range of branded undies, and offers a broad range of rugby-themed designs for both men and women. Plainer styles are also available if you prefer your pants low-key.
Price: from £9.75
ENGLAND RUGBY STREET SIGN
Everybody knows where to find HQ because – although a recent high-profile sponsorship deal may suggest otherwise – the England teams’ home ground has exactly the same name as its location. Your loved ones can remind themselves of their favourite moments at the famous old stadium with this replica street sign.
Price: £8.00
THROWING THE BOOK BY WAYNE BARNES
Books always make a solid low-price gift, and the autobiography of former referee Wayne Barnes (out now in paperback) will make a great addition to any bookshelf. Rugby World described it as “the full package”, with “punchy opinions” and “a shed-load of good sense”. A must-read from one of the greatest officials of all time.
Price: £11.65
Best rugby gifts under £50
Here are some of the best rugby gifts for a slightly higher budget of £50, including Welsh legend rum, British & Irish Lions knitwear and personal grooming kits.
ALUN WYN JONES’ RUM
Ryan Reynolds sells gin, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson flogs tequila, and now the most capped rugby player of all time – aka former Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones – has his own brand of rum. Named after the Mimosa, a ship that carried 19th century Welsh settlers to Patagonia (where, coincidentally, Jones won his first Welsh cap), Mimosa Rwm Espiritu is infused with South American coffee. We haven’t tried it but if the man’s half as good at rum as he was at rugby, this could be a treat.
Price: £39.99
2003 RWC FINAL COMMENTARY SHEET
Set up by Charlie Starmer-Smith, son of legendary commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith, The Sports Commentators bring rugby’s greatest moments to life. High quality copies of the commentary sheets from the voices of the game – such as John Taylor’s 2003 RWC final comms sheet here!
Price: from £39
GILLETTE RAZOR GIFT SET
Clean shaving has seen a 2024 resurgence thanks to Gillette’s revival of the “Gillette: The Best A Man Can Get” ad campaign with Tom Grennan. It’s put smooth faces back on the map so this gift set is a certified winner for any loved ones this Christmas.
Price: £50
PERSONALISED RUGBY BEER GLASS
At this price we’re not sure we’d ever risk swigging a pint from it, but even if it’s never used this is likely to become the lucky recipient’s most talked-about vessel. As well as adding your own personalised wording, you can choose which country’s badge adorns the miniature rugby ball (intentionally) embedded in the side of the glass.
Price: from £29.99
ENGLAND RUGBY OXFORD COTTON SHIRT
High street suit moguls Charles Tyrwhitt are official partners of England Rugby so have their own dedicated range. The pick of the lot is this classic striped oxford cotton, a staple of every rugby fan’s wardbr
Price: £29.00
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS XMAS JUMPER
Lions tours come around even more rarely than Christmas, so why not kill two birds (turtle doves, perhaps?) with a sweater that’ll keep its wearer feeling festive for many a December. There’s no shortage of rugby-themed Christmas jumpers out there, of course, though the appeal of several other designs depends on your tolerance for puns as tortured as “oh scrum all ye faithful” and “rucking around the Christmas tree”.
Price: £32.00
UMBRO ENGLAND TRAINING TOP
Designers usually get to have a bit more fun with training gear than the actual kit, and that’s certainly the case with this memorable tie dye-style design. It should also be versatile enough to wear for sport or the next time you’re in the stands at Twickenham.
Price: £43.50
Best rugby gifts under £100
THE BEST RUGBY KIT MONEY CAN BUY
The European Rugby Bordeaux third kit is the best rugby shirt money can currently buy and we will not hear anything to the contrary. Made by Kappa, the stripes and slight collar are inspired.
Price: From €85
NEW ADIDAS FRANCE JACKET
While the rest of the world was still wearing traditional rugby kits, the Serge Blanco’s legendary French team of the ’80s was breaking the mould with its stylish, three-striped Adidas designs. Now, after a brief flirtation with Le Coq Sportif, Les Bleus are back with the German manufacturer, and it’s a match made in heaven. You don’t have to support France to see that the team’s training kit has a certain je ne sais quoi – we’re big fans of this effortlessly cool Anthem jacket.
Price: Variable (£100 for Anthem jacket)
BOUND WOOL RUGBY POLO
Rugby shirts off the pitch are not just for match days at Twickenham or for doing some painting and decorating. They can be for nights out on the town or days in the pub, as shown by the good people at Manchester-based bound.
Price: £90
HISTORIC NEWSPAPER COMPILATIONS
Newspapers. Remember those? Even though the modern world supplies us with all the information we could possibly require in an instant, the internet can’t compete with print when it comes to piling on the nostalgia. These leather-bound books are assembled from over a century of newspaper reports, and paint a picture of the ups and downs of your favourite team. Books for a selection of club and international sides are available, and feel appropriate for older members of the family.
Price: from £61.99
THE NEW BRITISH & IRISH LIONS JERSEY
Next years is the Lions tour to Australia and Canterbury has released the jersey for the tour already. It’s a darker red than usual, designed to be more wearable in non-rugby environments. We quite like it.
Price: £82 for the match jersey, £69.99 for the supporters shirt
GILBERT BARBARIANS VINTAGE RUGBY BALL
Leather balls like this one went out of fashion years ago but there’s undeniably something romantic about the old-school style. This Barbarians-branded design is more for decoration than play, but you could also use it to remind the kids how easy they have it with those new-fangled modern balls.
Price: £69.99
WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS HOODIE
Just in case your loyalties are torn this winter/spring – or you simply want to celebrate the most famous rugby tournament on the planet – this hoodie will be a stylish addition to a fan’s wardrobe. Apparel featuring the new Men’s Six Nations logo is also available.
Price: £52.00
Read more: Back to school rugby: a buyer’s guide
Best rugby gifts for your kids
RUGBY BALL LIGHT
You probably have a strict “no rugby balls in the house” rule but you may want to make an exception for this distinctive lamp. Featuring authentic Gilbert branding and available in England, Scotland, Wales and Australia designs, the lamp can be personalised with your child’s name to make it feel extra special. It will also work as a gift for grown-up kids.
Price: from £84.95
ADIDAS ALL BLACKS RUGBY HOODED SWEATSHIRT (KIDS)
Adidas’s long-running partnership with the New Zealand team is one of the most enduring in sport, and they have an impressive history of making classy All Blacks gear. So, bearing in mind that the hoodie is a go-to in most kids’ wardrobes, you might as well err on the side of style. Adult sizes are also available for £60.
Price: £38.00
ENGLAND BRXLZ MINI STADIUM
If you have a young rugby fan in your house, chances are they enjoy knocking things down – let’s face it, it comes with the territory. But if they also like building things up, we reckon they’ll enjoy the chance to construct their very own miniature Twickenham. With approximately 1,167 pieces to work through, this BRXLZ set (definitely not Lego) should keep them busy for ages.
Price: £35.00
RAM SOLO SKILLS RUGBY BALL
The unpredictability of a rugby ball’s bounce makes for excellent entertainment but it’s not so great when you want to throw it against a wall and catch it. This Solo Skills ball is designed with a flattened end so you can practise with yourself – basically, it’s great news for parents looking for an excuse to get out of a muddy chuckabout in the back garden.
Price: £15.00
ENGLAND RUGBY KIT SLEEPSUIT
Let’s be honest, this one’s more for the benefit of the new parents than the child actually receiving the gift, but there’s no harm in nudging the sprog in a certain direction early. (Similar products are, of course, available for other countries if your allegiances lie elsewhere.)
Price: £18.00
Read more: The best boots for rugby: a buyer’s guide
Best gifts for players
If you buying for someone who still plays, here are some of the best rugby gifts you can get. Stuff that will always be useful and never find itself consigned to the bottom of a wardrobe.
GILBERT RWC FIJI RUGBY BALL
Best way you can improve your core skills as a player is to always have a ball in hand. Make it second nature. This RWC Fiji ball is down to £13 – a great stocking filler!
Price: £13
BRITISH & IRISH LIONS BOOT BAG
We can’t guarantee anyone a place in Andy Farrell’s squad for Australia, but at least your loved one can turn up to matches feeling like one of the best players in Europe with this boot bag.
Price: £19.99
BOOT BUDDY CLEANING TOOL
We’re heading into the muddiest time of the season, so rugby boots are about to take a pounding. This boot cleaning tool comes with a built-in scraper, its own water reservoir and a strong brush, to keep your footwear in good nick whatever pitches throw at you.
Price: £12.99
ATAK COMPRESSION GRIP SOCKS
Normally socks are the fallback gift you hand over when you can’t think of anything else to buy, especially at Christmas. These grip socks are different, however, because they may actually help an aspiring player’s game. The soles are impregnated with silicone pads designed to reduce slippage within the boot, resulting in enhanced comfort and reduced risk of blisters. Expect a great big thank you if they work.
Price: from £14.99
RHINO GAMEDAY RUCKSACK
Take some of the stress out of matchday with a bag that’ll allow you to carry your kit in style. At 32 litres, this Rhino backpack should be big enough to hold the kit you need, with plenty of zip compartments to keep accessories like gum shields and phones safe. It also has a laptop/tablet sleeve, ensuring it’s also versatile to use for school, work and everyday errands.
Price: £38.99
DAN CARTER SUPERTEES
If you know someone who wants to perfect their place kicking, you could do worse than buying them a practice tee. The Dan Carter range offers plenty of different designs, though – full disclaimer – they’re unlikely to make you kick like the All Blacks legend.
Price: £13.99
MARVEL GUM SHIELDS
Marvel is huge so there’s no surprise its universe now extends to gum shields. The Black Panther option is really cool – makes you look extra tough!
Price: From £11
GILBERT SLIDERS
Ensure your favourite rugby player arrives and departs matches in comfort with a pair of quality sliders. On non-matchdays they’ll also be ideal for wearing around the house.
Price: £19.99
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.
