The Making of the Old Novo RG Jersey: RGS Stripes, Re-Engineered

The Old Novo RG jersey started with a personal contradiction: I didn’t want to play rugby.

I was seven, new to a private school, and I came home in tears after compulsory games. I wasn’t born into a rugby family. I wasn’t “destined” for it. But that early push sent me down the path to exactly where I am now—designing the kind of rugby jersey I always wished existed: rooted in the touchline, built for everyday life.

This is the story behind the Old Novo RG rugby jersey, inspired by Royal Grammar School, Newcastle—and re-engineered so it doesn’t feel like a replica.

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A love letter to RGS colours (without copying them)

I joined The Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, founded in 1525—and 2025 marks 500 years of that founding legacy. 

In 2027, RGS will celebrate 150 years of rugby. 

In my time, the 1st XV wore black, red, and white stripes. I wanted to honour that—not copy it.

So we shifted the white to a cream “aged white” for a lived-in feel, and moved from bright team red to a richer crimson to lift it out of replica territory. This is an everyday rugby jersey with real roots—not a costume.

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Balancing the old and the new (the collar decision)

Most “fashion rugby” takes the easy route: white collar, done.

We did the opposite. A black collar and black placket—a small decision that makes the whole jersey cleaner and more modern, while staying respectful to the stripe tradition.\

The nerdy bit: engineered stripes that land consistently

Here’s the detail most people miss, and the one I care about most:

We built a size-specific knit map so the red stripe lands in the same place across sizes. That engineered approach makes each size look intentional—not like a scaled-up afterthought.

We also made sure the stripes meet cleanly at the side seams. It’s an easy miss. It matters.

Why yarn-dyed (and why it costs more)

We used a yarn-dyed knit, meaning the colour is in the yarn and the pattern is knitted in—not printed, not chopped into panels

It costs more and takes longer, but it wears better for longer.

The fabric is a 330gsm (10oz) cotton/polyester blend: soft hand-feel, better colour fastness, and the structure to hold its shape through actual life (work, school run, gym, pub). 

The mark of the brand (and why it’s subtle)

I was torn about logos. Branding can make clothes less wearable.

But after pressure-testing with a small circle of mates (the “insiders”), I chose a clean embroidered Old Novo script on the chest—subtle, local UK embroidery, and worth the delay.

Why we made it with Jim’s Jerseys

We worked with Jim’s Jerseys because they make it possible to do this properly at small scale: low minimums, strong colour matching, and a proven track record.

They’re trusted by over 500 clubs. 

And the founder story is real: Harry Blackwell built it off the back of rugby culture and vintage jersey obsession. 

When you’re chasing a very particular crimson and cream, “close enough” isn’t good enough.

Fit and care

Fit: We cut it long in the body. Like old-school rugby shirts, it settles after a few washes into a tidy, athletic drape.

Care:

• Cold wash

• Lay flat or hang dry

• Want it roomier? Skip the tumble dryer

• Want it to tighten slightly? A gentle dry will coax it in

Quick spec recap

• Colours: Black, Crimson, Cream (aged white) — inspired by RGS

• Neck: Black collar + placket (deliberate twist on tradition)

• Construction: Yarn-dyed knit (pattern knitted in, not printed)

• Fabric: 330gsm cotton/poly blend for structure + colour fastness 

• Stripe layout: Size-specific knit map for consistent stripe placement

• Branding: Subtle embroidered OldNovo chest script

• Fit: Longer body; expect light natural shrink after a few washes