Senior executives at adidas’ German headquarters have given the Sydney Roosters rare permission to alter the colours of their famous three white stripes on their Indigenous Round jersey.
In an Australian sporting first, the Roosters’ playing strip to be worn against the Bulldogs on Friday will switch the iconic white stripes to red, yellow and black – the colours of the First Nations’ flag.
The Roosters are in the first year of a four-year deal with the athletic apparel giants, but when it came to their Indigenous wish, which was designed by former player Craig Salvatori’s daughter, Kaylie, club officials needed to get top-brass approval.
It’s not unprecedented as adidas has allowed Germany to change the white stripes on their national football jerseys, as well as powerhouse clubs like Liverpool, whose away strip in the English Premier League this season will feature three red stripes.
Officials from adidas in Australia passed on the Roosters’ wishes to their chiefs in the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach – and they were more than happy to agree to the request because of the “profound cultural or community significance”.
“We’re incredibly proud to have worked collaboratively with the Sydney Roosters, designer Kaylie Salvatori, and our product team in Germany to create the 2026 First Nations Jersey,” said Rachel Howard, general manager of adidas Pacific.
“It was important that this jersey reflects the stories, cultures and communities it represents, ensuring the design is both authentic and deeply connected to the local community.
“Any change to the adidas three stripes is reserved for moments of profound cultural or community significance.
“Changing the three stripes to the colours of the Aboriginal Flag is a proud reflection of this.”
Roosters chief operating officer Jarrod Johnstone said the club reached out to adidas towards the end of last year so they had ample time to assess their request.
“We’re delighted adidas were open to the design, and they put the wheels in motion to get global approval – significant changes like altering the white stripes needed that [permission] from their headquarters,” he said.
Proud Gamilaroi man and Roosters utility Connor Watson loved the latest jersey, which features paintings by Salvatori, and the red, yellow and black stripes down the side. The Roosters have for several seasons dedicated their Indigenous jersey to former First Australians’ players.
It will be the last time Watson wears the Indigenous jersey at Bondi before he joins St George Illawarra next year ahead of his 2028 move to the PNG Chiefs.
He was also aware he could have easily been playing against the Roosters on Friday after meeting with Phil Gould about a move to the Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 season.
“It was pretty serious, it got pretty close, and that was when it didn’t look like there was going to be any room for me here; it’s a bit of a sliding-doors moment,” Watson said.
A second Roosters’ Indigenous player, Cody Ramsey, only discovered his First Nations’ heritage when he moved to Sydney when he was 17, and was keen to learn more about his past.
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