Rugby World Cup. In Nice, the National Sports Museum puts the shirts in the spotlight

On the sidelines of the international competition, four of which are held at the Alliance Riviera in Nice, the museum traces the history of the World Cup through about twenty objects that can be accessed for free in the building’s hall.

While the Rugby Cup will be held in France from September 8 to October 28, the city of Nice is preparing to host four matches of the competition. National Sports Museumlocated in the capital of the Riviera, has delved into its collection of more than 40,000 objects, to unearth something to highlight the game of rugby.

The museum took out about two dozen rugby jerseys and a national team logo from the boxes. They all belong to teams that participated in the Rugby World Cup, the tenth edition of which is being held this year.

These are brought together in an exhibition illustrating the evolution of sportswear for rugby players, from the first World Cup in 1987 through to the most recent competitions.

In the basement of the Nice Museum, adjacent to the Stade Alliance Riviera where Nice’s matches will be played, museum teams have been preparing the pieces that will be on display this week, especially the shirts that made the history of the oval ball sport.

rugby shirts”It’s not just clothes.“, confirms Vivian Di Tullio, the exhibition director, who is busy preparing the blue shirt, before specifying:”They really have technical characteristics“.

The manager pointed out the technical developments in clothing that have enabled the improvement of the game of rugby players around the world, which were highlighted at the exhibition: ventilation for temperature regulation, the emergence of synthetic materials to improve aerodynamics, “flu“On the torso to hold on to the oval ball better, among other things.”“Jerseys are a real strategic tool.” Vivian Di Tullio explains.

Among the items on display is the shirt the Blues wore during their encounter with the New Zealand All Blacks during the 2003 Cup, and the first French rugby shirt made from synthetic material, which ditches cotton to improve aerodynamics. “It is worn close to the body. These are matters that have been thought about by unions and equipment manufacturers“, explains the theater director, who is busy preparing the play.

The exhibition, which is free to enter, will be held from September 8 to October 28.

They gathered in the entrance hall of the National Sports Museum, next to the Alliance Riviera Stadium, in 6 Allie Camille Moffat in Nice.