RUGBY:If you are a crisp lover who drinks with two or more friends, John O'Sullivanis worried that the new Irish jersey may not be for you

It's really a matter of taste or perhaps more charitably, perspective. The sports clothing firm Canterbury of New Zealand, in conjunction with the IRFU, launched the national rugby team's new home and away kits for the upcoming World Cup in France.

The two things that spring to mind immediately are they must have run out of the main colour at some point in the construction and secondly, and perhaps more pertinently in the case of supporters, players actually get paid to wear this outfit, you don't.

To elaborate further, the new jerseys are figure-hugging and a far cry from their tarpaulin-like antecedents, designed to accommodate all physiques.

It's fair to say that salad dodgers should really head for the other shelves, marked polo shirts. Just think of the chaffing and circulation problems that a punter will court, never mind the mountain of talcum powder required to get in and out of the jersey.

It's not just traditionalists that will be appalled. That's not in any way to demean Canterbury's current model; from a scientific perspective it's no doubt cutting edge, judging by the pictures we've seen.

After all, as their promotional material suggests, "the kit has been specifically designed to meet the demanding and rigorous requirements of international rugby.

"Renowned for developing the most technically-advanced kit in the game, Canterbury has created a range of shirts that are specially designed to aid the performance of players in certain positions."

The blurb goes on to point out that props will be able to bind more effectively in the scrum but whether you'll be able to get the same purchase in the bar if someone stumbles, without administering a Chinese burn, is another matter.

Those lifted at lineout time will have special panels in their shorts to facilitate getting them in the air while the backs' jerseys "will have grip panels on their chests to aid ball retention when running". It could be useful when carrying back more than three drinks back from the counter but goodness knows where you are going to put the crisps.

There is "an innovative moisture management system," invaluable at close quarters and possibly when short taken.

Removing tongue from cheek, there's no doubt the players will benefit from their new lightweight poly-cotton fabric called Temex, the tight fitting asymmetric neck line and the Lycra side panelling: but just remember it's not for everyone.