England vs Fiji: Why are England wearing red in their opening Rugby World Cup match?

Stuart Lancaster's side will not be wearing their traditional white strip and will also be using the away dressing room for tonight's tournament opener

Simon Rice
Friday 18 September 2015 04:58 EDT
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Chris Robshaw
Chris Robshaw (GETTY IMAGES)

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England might be hosting the Rugby World Cup, but tonight they're not allowed to wear their traditional white kit. Instead, their opponents Fiji will be wearing that colour.

It's because England are the designated 'away' team for the tournament opener at Twickenham.

Therefore, they will wear their red 'away' kit. In addition, they will also use the visitors dressing room for the match.

The status of Stuart Lancaster's side as the away team came after they lost a coin toss overseen by World Rugby last year.

England, among the favourites to win the tournament, will wear their white jersey for the remaining Pool A matches against Wales, Australia and Uruguay, although they will occupy the visitors' changing room against the Wallabies.

Lancaster helped prepare his side for their new surroundings by using the away dressing room for the recent 21-13 victory over Ireland. World Cup rules also stipulate that all changing rooms for the tournament must be adorned with identical branding, so any home comforts and the inspirational messages inscribed in the home dressing room at Twickenham have been covered up anyway.

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