Kōrero: Rugby union

In 2012 the New Zealand Rugby Football Union unveiled a new-look jersey for their teams. The garment featured the logos of Adidas at top left and – prominently – of multinational insurance company AIG in the centre. AIG had just been announced as the team’s new major global sponsor. The advent of professional rugby, with players being paid large sums, led to such open advertising on team uniforms. The prominence of a commercial logo on the sacred All Black uniform was received with almost no criticism. Shown here are, from left, Richard Kahui (Māori All Blacks), Liam Messam (All Blacks), Solomon King (sevens), Huriana Manuel (women's sevens), Brad Shields (under-20) and Emma Jensen (Black Ferns).