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J.Crew Just Proved Why Not All Rugby Shirts Are Created Equal

This elevated take on the athletic jersey-turned-preppy staple looks respectable on adults.

Close-up of a person wearing a cream-colored collared shirt with a white button and a blue and white striped inner placket detail. The collar is slightly open, revealing the neck.J.Crew
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By Brad Lanphear

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The rugby shirt is a foundational piece of Americana, Preppy, Ivy style — whatever you want to call it.

That status has some benefits and some negative connotations.

A young man wearing sunglasses and a light beige long-sleeve shirt stands on a sailboat with his arms outstretched. He holds a folded map in his left hand. The background shows sails and rigging of the boat, with a soft, warm light suggesting either sunrise or sunset.
This rugby shirt elevates the classic sporty collared jersey.
J.Crew

J.Crew offers a version of the old-school athletic jersey that maximizes its versatility and minimizes its collegiate reputation with a refined makeover.

Gone are the bold color block stripes and geometric formations, replaced by elegant uniform colors, a white collar and a striped inner placket.

Long-sleeve navy blue rugby shirt with a white collar, a partial button placket, and small embroidered nautical flags on the left cuff.
J.Crew’s rugby shirt comes in creamy white, royal blue, green, black and burgundy.
J.Crew

You don’t have to subscribe to preppy style for J.Crew’s elevated rugby shirt to be an asset to your wardrobe. The 10-ounce 100 percent cotton jersey knit fabric offers the comfort of a sweatshirt with the respectability of a button-down.

It’s the little things

J.Crew certainly didn’t invent the rugby shirt — it originated as an athletic jersey at nineteenth-century English prep schools — but the American retailer has been selling them since the 1980s.

Close-up of a person wearing a black rugby shirt with a white collar and a blue and white striped placket, layered over a white crew-neck t-shirt.
The inner placket has a blue and white striped pattern.
J.Crew

The style is as ubiquitous as other preppy staples like Oxford shirts and polo shirts, but it is often too sporty for adult men to wear after a certain age. J.Crew removes any affiliation with real or fictional schools and athletic teams.

However, several subtle elements of the rugby shirt’s roots remain intact, such as the contrast white canvas collar and rubber buttons below it.

The sides are vented, and the tail is longer, designed to stay tucked in, much like a polo shirt. A white canvas lining on the vents reinforces the seam.

Back view of a person wearing a long-sleeve, off-white polo shirt with elbow patches, paired with olive green pants featuring buttoned back pockets.
The side seams are vented, and the elbows are padded.
J.Crew

The elbows of J.Crew’s Oxford Shirt are padded inside, so only the stitching is visible. This subtle hint at the garment’s roots doesn’t disrupt its elevated look.

A fitting replacement

This grown-up rugby shirt offers a refreshing change-up for some shirts that most men rely heavily on and may feel a little stale.

The collared neck, uniform body and elegant color options make this a fitting replacement for a button-down shirt on most occasions.

Dark green long-sleeve rugby shirt with a white collar and a partially visible blue and white striped placket, worn tucked into dark pants with a brown leather belt.
J.Crew’s rugby shirt works tucked in or untucked.
J.Crew

Like a button-down, it works tucked in or untucked and can even be worn with a blazer. Likewise, you can wear a t-shirt underneath, but it looks better without one, weather permitting.

If your go-to off-duty look is a golf shirt or quarter-zip, this refined rugby is a 100 percent cotton upgrade that adds a hint of sophistication.

I constantly reach for a hoodie or crewneck sweatshirt, but J.Crew’s rugby shirt offers a more put-together look than either of those fallbacks.

Cream-colored long sleeve shirt with a small embroidered design of two blue flags crossed on the lower sleeve near the wrist. The shirt has visible stitching and two small eyelets near the underarm area.
A small J.Crew embroidery is on the wrist, and the armpit gusset is vented.
J.Crew

The J.Crew Rugby Shirt with Striped Placket is an easy style upgrade for any man’s wardrobe. It can be shuffled in with all of the garments listed above and requires minimal maintenance — just wash and wear.

You can’t go wrong with any available color, but the ‘Natural’ creamy white is the most versatile option.

Availability and price

J.Crew’s Rugby Shirt with Striped Placket is available now from J.Crew for $98.

New colors for Fall 2025 include a creamy white, washed black, dark green and burgundy-purple.

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

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