Bok shirts top sellers ahead of RWC

Springbok shirts are among the top sellers at rugby merchandise stores across London ahead of the RWC. [Video]

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London - Springbok shirts are among the top sellers at rugby merchandise stores across London.

Rugby World Cup gear will cost you a pretty penny, but merchandise is flying off the shelves nonetheless as fans get kitted out ahead of kick off on Friday night.

At the Official Rugby World Cup store in Covent Garden, in the heart of the theatre and cafe district of London, manager Jordan Joyce has been employing some sneaky tactics to promote his team’s colours.

“We try and keep the non-English fans out, because England are going to win the World Cup,” Joyce joked. “Sorry to all you Springbok fans out there.”

The small store is packed with every supporter item imaginable, from replica team shirts to keyrings and Webb Ellis cups.

A South Africa supporter collared T-shirt is £40, about R830. A Bok beanie will set you back £10, or R207, while a scarf sells for £13 - R70.

“It’s been busy ever since we opened, but coming towards the World Cup its been manic,” Joyce said. “We get loads of South Africans in here. But like I said, we try and keep the South Africans out. We try and push their tops to one side and make a bigger section for the England ones.”

Despite his efforts as a die-hard England fan, Joyce said the replica Springbok shirt has been among his top selling items.

“Our best sellers have to be the replicas - the southern hemisphere teams Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, they fly out.”

Another favourite is the caps and shirts with the emblems of all the competing nations.

“Our 20 nations gear, with all the qualifying nations on them - people love them, collectors love them,” Joyce said.

The sister store in Oxford Street, right at the heart of the shopping district, has done a similarly roaring trade.

South African-born Muhammad Pangarker started working at the store in October last year. He said sales soared over Christmas, then slumped in January, when they would only see a few customers in the store each day.

In the months leading up to the tournament though, merchandise has been hopping off the shelves.

“We get lots of South Africans in the store, but the majority of our customers are from the UK,” Pangarker said.

“We also get a lot of Malaysians - they’re the top spenders in the store. They come in and ask for the All Blacks.”

Pangarker said the All Blacks are the favourites with most tourists.

Despite growing up in the UK, Pangarker is a fierce Springbok supporter, and he loves selling merchandise to what he calls “die-hard fans” in the store. They have only one complaint:

“People have been complaining about the Springbok emblem on the sleeve,” he said. “I’m upset about it too; I think it should be on the heart.”

“I ask them why don’t they support their own countries, if they’re playing in the cup, but they just want All Blacks gear.”

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