IRFU powerless in relation to ‘Help for Heroes’ jersey

An Irish rugby jersey endorsing the UK charity Help for Heroes (H4H), which supports wounded armed forces servicemen and women in the UK, is neither an official IRFU product nor endorsed by the Union.

The jersey features a shamrock on its crest but as it does not contain any official IRFU logos, as well as being unable to prevent its production or sale, the Union doesn’t condone or condemn the use of an Irish rugby jersey in this way.

The "Help for Heroes Ireland Rugby Shirt" is being sold online by LovellRugby, in partnership with H4H. LovellRugby has an address in Paignton in Devon, and describes itself as the world's largest online rugby store. The shirt is retailing for €48.99 on its website, plus €9.99 for post and packaging to Ireland, of which they say 10 per cent is donated to Help for Heroes.

The website declares: “Proudly cheer on the team while doing your bit for charity with the Help for Heroes Ireland Rugby Shirt.”

When contacted by The Irish Times, an IRFU spokesperson said: "It is not an official IRFU jersey. All IRFU jerseys and replica kit is produced by Canterbury. They are the official suppliers for all IRFU jerseys and replica rugby kit."

Green jersey

“This is not an IRFU product. It is a green jersey with a shamrock on it and we cannot control a green jersey with a shamrock on it.

“Our commercial team would keep an eye on all replica-style gear out there and while this isn’t an official piece of kit, it doesn’t carry the IRFU insignia, it doesn’t carry any IRFU logo and there’s nothing we can do about it. Anybody is free to make up a green jersey with a shamrock logo on it. There are multiple suppliers out there producing replica style green jerseys.”

As to the IRFU’s reaction to unsanctioned Irish rugby jerseys supporting the Help for Heroes charity, the spokesperson said: “We wouldn’t have a comment. We can’t control what people do with green jerseys. We can only look after official production and that is what we have a responsibility for. It is not an official IRFU product. It is not produced by, or on behalf of, the IRFU. It is not something we are involved in in any way.”

The jersey is a joint official venture between the Help for Heroes charity and the manufacturers, Lovell, who have also produced English, Welsh and Scottish jerseys in support of Help for Heroes, as well as special Christmas jersey, and thus is legitimate.

Raise funds

Help for Heroes was launched on 1st October 2007 to help provide better facilities for servicemen and women from the UK who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty. Sport, and specifically rugby, has helped to raise funds for the charity.

In September 2008, Twickenham hosted a rugby match between a “Help for Heroes XV” and an “International Select XV” which raised €1.5 million and was televised by Sky Sports. The Help for Heroes XV won 29-10 in front of a crowd of 52,254, which included The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.

A second ‘Heroes Rugby Challenge’ was played in December 2011 at Twickenham, when a Southern Hemisphere XV beat a Northern Hemisphere XV by 36-22 in front of a crowd of 29,251. The match raised almost €1 million for Help for Heroes.