England to wear jerseys imprinted with poppies for autumn internationals
The England rugby team have had no issues wearing poppies
©PA
The Rugby Football Union confirmed that England will wear jerseys imprinted with poppies for their upcoming autumn internationals after acquiring necessary clearance from World Rugby.
Recently FIFA, football's global governing body, has banned England and Scotland players from wearing poppies on shirts during their World Cup qualifying match while stating that the teams are not allowed to display political, religious or commercial symbols on their kit.
However, RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie made it clear that there will not be any such rule in rugby.
"Poppies have always been an integral part of our situation, so the England team will be wearing it on the shirt," said Ritchie. "Why would you not have an act of remembrance? I think wearing a poppy is part of that.
"It's the appropriate thing to do and World Rugby are very supportive of that. We don't have those issues and I think that's right.
"As you know it's an act of remembrance. It's the same as when we put the new Rose and Poppy gates in front of the stand. I think it's right to commemorate all the people who suffered in conflict.
"I think everyone gets it. It's absolutely appropriate to do it. It's not for me to comment on other sports, but all I can say is that World Rugby have been enormously supportive."
There will be a minute's silence before England start their autumn internationals against the Springboks and Ritchie assured that any activity related to Remembrance Day has been carried out after taking necessary clearance from World Rugby and the opponents on that day.
"I think it's a matter of courtesy to ask and on occasions in the past it's never been an issue," Ritchie said.
"But of course, as a matter of courtesy we still talk to them and clearly through World Rugby and they deal with that.
"There will also be specific things on the day. We've always worked closely with armed services charities so we're going to do that again this time.
"We change it from time to time. Sometimes it's the British Legion, sometimes it's Help for Heroes. That's appropriate and right."
