New Zealand's greatest sporting flair

Sport Review #236

May 18, 2023

One of the challenges of playing top level sport is being locked into uniforms and dress codes so restrictive, you wind up looking like you’re on a school trip or work in a retail store. The only window to express your personality and philosophy is though their equipment or hair management - some of our great sporting heroes have turned simple accessories into icons through achievement or style. Here is NZ’s top sporting flair."*

Chris Lewis needed a serious sweat socking set up to manage his magnificent mop - this massive-looking Ellesse bandana took him all the way to the Wimbledon final.

Chris Pringle became a sun protection icon with his masterful zinc application - here is is in a subdued white colourway. Please note his commitment to sun protection included deploying it in a night match.

The Black Ferns’ scrunchies are always next level.

Josh Kronfeld’s scrum helmet was an ever-present in the 90’s, offering both head protection and a platform for political statements.

The great man Martin Crowe made sweat management and sponsor acknowledgement look effortless with the towelling head / wrist band double.

Lisa Carrington’s red shades are her equivalent of Tiger’s Sunday red shirt - this means it’s business time.

Jonah Lomu’s headphones made it clear he was fully relaxed about running over the top of you.

OK, so no-one emerged from the 90’s without committing multiple sunglass crimes, but Simon Doull springs to mind as a particularly egregious example.

*Please note this list excludes Waikato coach Kevin Green’s leather flat cap, broadly acknowledged as New Zealand’s number one sporting flair, ‘cos Sport Review failed to find a photo.

Thanks for reading - Richard

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