Though it pains me to promote anything invented by a bunch of English boarding school nerds, credit where credit is due—the Brits really went off with the rugby shirt. At GQ, we’ve long sung the praises of the rugged prep staple, from classic, pitch-ready spins to designer riffs that tend to hang on more slender shoulders than those of your average prop. And since I started working here, I just can’t quit them.
Over the last few months, I’ve snagged rugby shirts from Abercrombie, Wax London, and some random Parisian rugby shop I stumbled into after I had dinner up the street. But my favorite of the bunch? That would be this perpetually on-sale piece from J.Crew—one I love so much, I bought it in every color the brand offers.
Alright, I lied: I have it in every color except the light blue, which J.Crew, like, just added. (Rest assured it’s en route to my apartment as I write this.) So before we go any further, do me a favor and wipe the foam off your mouths, keyboard warriors, since I’m well aware that recommending an ostensibly plain-Jane shirt from J.Crew isn’t exactly groundbreaking stuff around these parts. But the headline here isn’t hyperbole: I’ve legitimately worn this rugby shirt—in all of its different colors—every week to work since I started commuting to the GQ HQ in July.
That versatility is what I love so much about it: I can wear it untucked with a pair of 874s for a more casual look, tuck it in under a blazer to dress it up, or roll up the sleeves with jeans for post-work pints. And then there are the details, from the traditional rubber buttons and canvas collar to the reinforced elbow patches, striped placket, and flag insignia near the cuff.
Plus, the 100% cotton construction feels great, and the relaxed fit makes your shoulders look jacked without strangling your midsection—perfect for both svelte gentlemen and dudes who look like they might (actually) play rugby.
I know, I know: another J.Crew blog. I can sense your skepticism through the screen. Will we make a commission if you buy these, which you most definitely should? Yes. (It says so right at the top of the page, boys.) Will you have added a versatile, three-season layering hack to your wardrobe if you do? Also yes.
If there’s any more of a case to be made here, know that I’ve worn J.Crew’s rugby shirt to everything from my nephew’s first communion to beer-soaked 30th birthday parties. (Pro tip: Drinking too much Guinness looks a lot better in a collar.) You’ll even see a one-inch version of me sporting the green colorway in the February 2025 print issue.
So once again, for the guys in the back. Need to look presentable at work? Boom, rugby. After-work drinks? Also rugby. First date? Rugby again. First date goes poorly so you rally the boys to salvage the Saturday? You guessed it, rugby—specifically, this one.