"Hybrid" Home H-Cup Jerseys

Munster Rugby and Toyota recently announced that Munster will be wearing special edition jerseys for their Thomond Park Heineken Cup pool games over the coming months.  Originally when I saw "Hybrid" in the title I was awash with excitement, were they going to have a third European jersey, a jersey with two Heineken Cup stars, a sleeveless version?  But no, clicking into the article I was disappointed to learn it referred to Toyota's Auris Hybrid car.

Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against Toyota's flagship of environmental technology (I can only assume that's why there are windmills in the background of every second catalogue shot of the car), but is it really acceptable to be plastering it on the front of a jersey as prestigious and revered as Munster's?  Munster Rugby and Toyota argue that it is, since they are giving away 23 of these "special edition" jerseys for charity.  One counter argument amongst many would be it's a slap in the faces to those who paid nearly €70 for a replica jersey not more than 4 months ago.

This is not the first time sponsors have "tagged on" to the shirt space they paid for.  During Ireland's World Cup warm up game against England in August, O2 decided to advertise their O2 Money prepay Visa card across the lower midriff of the Irish team.  Admittedly it could be worse, and us Irish could just be yearning for the simpler times, back when Bank of Ireland sponsored everyone.  I mean, have a look at some of the Italian teams, or even the Ospreys!

Benetton Treviso going fairly heavy on the advertising hoarding front alright - even giving Captain Amazing from Mystery Men a run for his money, but nothing compared to the Ospreys, who have no less than 9 sponsors on their jersey:

• Embroidery:
• Small maximuscle logo on left collar
• Small Doors Warehouse logo on right
• Printing:
• Large RWE npower renewables logo on front of shirt
• Stabili s.r.l. logo on right arm
• Jewson logo on left arm
• Small Veolia Transport logo on left arm
• Cuddy Group logo on left arm
• Small Nathanial cars.co.uk logo on back of collar
• Large Persimmon logo on lower back

Seeing as Toyota are sticking this up our Auris for charity, it'd be negligent not to mention Osprey's unique take on a third jersey - a charity jersey.  Quite a novel concept, Ospreys team up with Welsh cancer charity the Joshua Foundation, whereby £3 from each of a limited run of 1,500 jerseys sold goes to this honourable charity.

Above and to the right we have Connacht Rugby's awesome third European jersey.  Yes, they might have a rough time propping up Pool 6, but they'll look class doing so.  Legend has it that the eagle and sword crest used by Connacht were granted to Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobair, King of Connacht, by the Irish monastery (Schottenkloster) founded in Regensburg, Bavaria in the 11th century.  Oddly enough the Connacht jersey colours do not match up to those of the province, which are blue, black and white (no green present).  The origin of the green is unknown, to this day underage Connacht teams wear a blue and black/white kit which matches the flag [edit: this is no longer the case].

At least you don't see Connacht's sponsors - Mazda - pushing their all new CX-5 compact SUV across their jerseys.  Still though, if Munster Rugby can generate extra funds from this minor extra embroidery, then so be it.  Maybe we'll be able to afford a good signing, who knows!  Perhaps one with "sustainable mobility" - just like the Auris Hybrid...

Will we see Jean de Villiers' hybrid vigour once more?