WELLINGTON, June 1 (Reuters) - Otago Highlanders fans are dismayed at their team's decision to change the colours of their strip from the traditional blue, maroon and yellow.
The new colours, widely expected to be mostly green, are being kept under wraps until the team host the Western Force at Carisbrook in their final game at the ground on Friday before they move to a new indoor stadium next season.
Television cameras have been banned from the dressing room before kickoff so the strip will not be seen until the players run out onto the field.
The Highlanders have undergone a renaissance this season under new coach Jamie Joseph and the move to the new stadium had prompted the decision to unveil new colours, the Highlanders' general manager Roger Clark said earlier this week.
"We believe the time is right for change. We have a new coach, new players, new expectations, new and renewed fans, and next year, we will have a new home stadium," Clark said.
"We hope that Highlanders fans in our region and around the country will continue to support a great coach and a great team, support the new colours and make the Highlanders franchise strong and enduring."
The fans, however, are less than enthused with more than 90 percent of the 2,500 people taking part in an online-poll on the Otago Daily times website (www.odt.co.nz) against the decision.
"Highlanders in green. What next, the All Blacks in nipple pink?" a reader named Torea wrote on the website.
One reader, Stagfan, wrote the change could be seen to be dishonouring the traditions of the three provincial unions, Otago, Southland and North Otago, that feed into the franchise.
"Finally, we see a side playing with pride and passion, playing a good brand of rugby with a good coach and good depth within the side," Stagfan wrote.
"So why on earth would the franchise go ahead and jeapordise (sic) the future of this mighty team by dishonouring the past? Keep the colours the same."
The new colours, widely expected to be mostly green, are being kept under wraps until the team host the Western Force at Carisbrook in their final game at the ground on Friday before they move to a new indoor stadium next season.
Television cameras have been banned from the dressing room before kickoff so the strip will not be seen until the players run out onto the field.
The Highlanders have undergone a renaissance this season under new coach Jamie Joseph and the move to the new stadium had prompted the decision to unveil new colours, the Highlanders' general manager Roger Clark said earlier this week.
"We believe the time is right for change. We have a new coach, new players, new expectations, new and renewed fans, and next year, we will have a new home stadium," Clark said.
"We hope that Highlanders fans in our region and around the country will continue to support a great coach and a great team, support the new colours and make the Highlanders franchise strong and enduring."
The fans, however, are less than enthused with more than 90 percent of the 2,500 people taking part in an online-poll on the Otago Daily times website (www.odt.co.nz) against the decision.
"Highlanders in green. What next, the All Blacks in nipple pink?" a reader named Torea wrote on the website.
One reader, Stagfan, wrote the change could be seen to be dishonouring the traditions of the three provincial unions, Otago, Southland and North Otago, that feed into the franchise.
"Finally, we see a side playing with pride and passion, playing a good brand of rugby with a good coach and good depth within the side," Stagfan wrote.
"So why on earth would the franchise go ahead and jeapordise (sic) the future of this mighty team by dishonouring the past? Keep the colours the same."
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