Cool Trend: The Best Rugby Shirts Bring Prep and Personality to Fall Style

Functional has a way of becoming fashionable.

The chino was trusted for durability in battle-hardened jungle climates.
The white tee was a standard-issue undershirt.
The blue jean was first a Wild West workwear icon long before it appeared on the cover of Sticky Fingers.

And the best rugby shirts? Their story is a bit more sporty and collegiate, but no less rooted in time-tested functionality.

Both a prep school uniform and a shirt worn on the rugby pitch as far back as 1830s England, the very best rugby shirts are as durable and hard-working as the burly players that made it into a heritage icon. 

Modern athletic options for the pros on the rugby pitch are now made with tech fabric, of course. But, your favorite fashion brands have adopted the prep icon by using designs that often rely on sturdy cotton or organic cotton with a touch of stretch. 

Its hallmarks are largely the same: Striped variations were used to distinguish teams and nationalities, the same way brands like J. Crew and Taylor Stitch put their own colorful spin on a history-making shirt these days, contrast collar and all. 

You could say that everyone – or almost everyone – has worn a rugby shirt over the years. What other style can lay claim to being worn by both Mick Jagger and Tupac, after all? 

So, when can you wear a rugby shirt? Think of it like a fresh twist on your office uniform when paired with chinos, or opt for one at a fall and winter cocktail party with corduroy pants and crisp dress boots. You can even lean into retro flair with dark blue jeans and white leather sneakers (a la Sir Jagger himself).

We can’t promise you’ll look quite as cool as those two style icons in a fresh rugby shirt, but it’s worth a shot, right?

Thanks to its hard-wearing fabrication, the rugby shirt retains its outdoor-ready flair (as first crafted by companies like Patagonia decades ago). Topo Designs takes a similarly throwback-inspired approach to its bold, colorful and simply fun expression of the rugby shirt, using heavyweight organic cotton jersey fabric for a sustainable touch.

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The vibrant stripes of rugby shirts in decades gone by now serve as the driving force behind this modern spin from San Francisco staple Taylor Stitch. The details reign supreme, including a contrasting collar and hefty organic cotton construction. 

The covered placket adds a clean finish to a shirt that boasts a tailored fit in the brand’s signature chest sizing – pair this one with a corduroy blazer for a suitably professorial look.

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Elkhead Clothing takes things all the way back to the olden days, using a double jersey weave cotton accented by sporting-inspired stripes and the company’s rugged elk chest patch. 

Thoughtful touches like metal grommets at the armpit aid in breathability, while vivid pops of red throughout add a touch of heritage flair. Plus, the shirt is built with more room through the chest and shoulders (yet a clean finish through the body), just the way real-life rugby players like ‘em.

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If it’s a menswear essential that you seek, there’s a good chance Huckberry’s Flint and Tinder makes their own distinctive take on the style. Heavyweight cotton lends a heritage look and feel, while thin horizontal stripes (among other color and pattern options) broaden your chest and shoulders visually. 

Ribbed cuffs at the wrist offer a secure fit and a comfortable finish: For best results, wear alongside Flint and Tinder’s fan-favorite 365 Pants any day of the week.

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You might say that A&F menswear is “sneaky good” for the price, especially when the brand leans into its original roots as a field-approved outfitter. The rugby shirt here gets the ‘sweater polo’ treatment, an elegant move that wouldn’t look out of place in Don Draper’s wardrobe on a laidback yet polished Sunday outing. Dress for success, indeed.

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J. Crew has long mastered the art of tasteful prep style for the modern man, and this striped version adds substantial color and a distinct 1980s sense of style to your rotation. If you’re going to bolster your wardrobe with a new look this season, why not go all out and have a little fun with it, right?

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In the menswear pantheon, Ralph Lauren often gets the first (and last) word, especially in matters of preppy Americana dressing. The brand helped bring the rugby shirt to the masses, and this bold, striped option is every bit as classic now as it was when Ralph first brought it to market.

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