Rugby: Highlanders to stay in green

Adam Thomson wearing the Highlanders green jersey. Photo / Getty Images

The Highlanders will continue to wear green jerseys for at least another Super rugby season because the franchise is locked into a contract with clothing giant adidas.

The new-look strip drew heavy flak from fans after it was introduced for the game against Western Force at Carisbrook three weeks ago.

Highlanders chairman Ross Laidlaw said the board originally rubber-stamped the green jersey late last year as part of the "overall marketing plan to refresh the Highlanders franchise".

The franchise was now contractually committed to wear the new strip in 2012.

"The lead times on these decisions are much longer than you would think and it is not feasible to change our home jersey for 2012 now," Laidlaw said in a statement.

The Highlanders' previous jerseys were blue, maroon and yellow - a combination of the colours of the Otago and Southland teams.

- NZPA