17 Best Rugby Shirts in 2026, According to GQ Style Editors

The best rugby shirts for men pull off a trick few garments can: they look rugged, relaxed and aristocratic at the same time. Born on British rugby pitches, the shirt has always lived in the dead center of the prep canon alongside Oxfords, chinos, and loafers, even if the sport itself never quite conquered America. The look was, of course, famously immortalized in Take Ivy, that eternally-relevant document of a time that sportswear and tailoring came together with heretofore unseen ease.But the rugby shirt is also so much more than that. It was never just the Connecticut or Oxbridge set. Everyone from David Hockney to Mick Jagger to Chloe Sevigny has worn one, and it adapts depending on who’s wearing it (just look at Fontaines D.C.’s frontman recently.) Today, in the midst of the prep revival, many of our favourite labels are putting out brand-new rugbies, in better colourways and more considered fabrics. Below, 17 picks we've yanked out of the virtual scrum.Best Rugby Shirt OverallPolo Ralph Lauren Iconic Rugby ShirtRead MoreBest Budget Rugby ShirtGAP VintageSoft Oversized Polo SweatshirtRead MoreBest Upgrade Rugby ShirtAnglo-Italian Rugby ShirtRead MoreBest Preppy Rugby ShirtJ.Press Striped RugbyRead MoreBest Vintage-Feeling Rugby ShirtJ. Crew Overdyed RugbyRead MoreBest Rugby Shirt with PocketsBanana Republic Archive Reissue RugbyRead MoreBest Striped RugbyMadewell Striped RugbyRead MoreBest Rugby Shirt Overall: Polo Ralph Lauren Iconic Rugby ShirtPolo Ralph LaurenIconic Rugby ShirtProsClassic, timeless rugby aesthetic with iconic (yet subtle) Polo brandingDurable cotton jersey built for both style and utilityAvailable in a variety of stripes and solidsConsClassic fit may feel long or boxy on some body typesWhen Ralph Lauren calls something it makes “iconic”, it isn't playing. Yes, J.Press and other Ivy League shops brought the look off the pitch (and J.Crew brought it to the mall) but it could be argued that Ralph Lauren brought it to the entire world. “Rugby” would even become the name of Mr. Lauren’s dog and, much later, a youthful sub-label. And while there's been plenty of experimentation at HQ over the years, this is the traditional take: a solid color, a white point collar, rubber buttons, soft cotton. I’ve had my navy one for years, and it continues to get better. It pairs nicely with jeans and chinos, but it especially shines during this brief, glorious time we call shorts and hoodie weather… Siri, play “Oxford Comma.”Best Budget Rugby Shirt: GAP VintageSoft Oversized Polo SweatshirtGAPVintageSoft Oversized Polo SweatshirtProsRich berry colour feels current while being easy to pull off.Cotton-poly blend offers both softness and durability.Excellent price.ConsThe 23% poly blend offers less breathability and sustainability.The distinctive color pops, but if you want more staying power, think about something more muted.Gap is on an absolute heater right now. The brand’s recent campaigns have been calling back to the iconic ’90s ads we know and love, but, crucially, the clothes have kept up the pace. Timely collaborations with brands like A.P.C. don’t hurt, nor does a steady supply of easy-wearing pieces in exactly the right colours, including the rich berry shade suddenly turning up everywhere. The soft construction and unreal price only sweeten the deal. The polyester content may disappoint anyone nostalgic for the all-cotton Gap hoodies of yesteryear, but sometimes a super-soft yet resilient cotton blend is exactly what the fall season calls for.Best Upgrade Rugby Shirt: Anglo-Italian Rugby ShirtProsPure cotton loopback jersey has real substance but remains light enough to layer.Boxy cut and raglan shoulders give it a relaxed, flattering shape.Made in Portugal with upgraded detailing.ConsBoxy proportions won’t appeal if you prefer a closer, cleaner fit.The bold stripes make it less versatile than a solid rugby shirt.London’s Anglo-Italian does exactly what the name promises, combining the ease and fabrics of Italian tailoring with a distinctly English sense of restraint. That philosophy guides its suits, but it carries over nicely to the casual stuff. This rugby is made in Portugal from premium loopback cotton, with a hefty stand collar, rubber buttons and extra-wide stripes in four colors. It’s an ideal choice when you want the familiar shirt, only made a little better in every respect. Still, don’t be precious with it, wear it well and it will reward you.Best Preppy Rugby Shirt: J.Press Made-in-USA Striped RugbyProsHeavyweight cotton jersey, made in the USA.Tons of colors to choose from; the gold-and-navy is pure prep.Machine washable and built for regular wear.ConsGenerously cut; consider sizing down.Heavyweight jersey could be too warm for mild weather or indoor layering.On the pricer sideGet ready to see a lot more from J. Press. Since taking over as president and creative director, Rowing Blazers founder Jack Carlson has been waking the 125-year-old Ivy institution up with sharper cuts, brighter colours, and unexpected collaborations. Then there’s the new flagship at Madison and 44th, fitted out with wood panelling, old photographs and letters from former presidents—catnip to the Ivy obsessives among us.They’re not throwing the baby out with the bathwater, however. For all the newness, they know better than to mess with the formula. J. Press was importing British versions for Ivy League students back in the 1950s and has stuck to the playbook ever since: vivid colours, beefy cotton, rubber buttons and stripes. This is the rugby shirt in its purest form, made by one of the shops that helped turn it into an American classic.Best Vintage-Feeling Rugby Shirt: J.Crew Overdyed RugbyProsOverdyed finish offers a convincingly faded, broken-in look.Substantial cotton fabric feels soft but sturdy.Relaxed fit captures the old-school rugby silhouette. Also available in tall.ConsPurists might find the collar a bit undersized.The first commandment of prep? Thou shalt not look freshly purchased. J.Crew seems to have had that in mind when it cooked up this convincingly vintage-looking rugby. While more straightforward colourways are available, the overdyed purple-and-navy stripes arrive perfectly faded, as if someone else has already done the tedious work of breaking it in. Elbow patches and rubber buttons keep things traditional, while a striped placket adds just enough deviation from the old playbook. The colours are easy to wear, the cut is neat enough to tuck or layer, and Tall sizing is available. Vintage prep without the vintage hunt.Best Rugby Shirt with Pockets: Banana Republic Archive Reissue RugbyBanana RepublicArchive Reissue RugbyProsSoft, substantial French terry means its soft like a sweatshirt.Sturdy corduroy collar adds texture and genuine vintage character.Special wash creates a broken-in feel straight off the rack.Pockets!ConsIf you want that classic rugby look this isn’t the pullover for youPockets!Banana Republic has wisely begun digging through its archives, back to when its clothes suggested safaris and adventure. And the result is this genuinely unique take on a rugby. It feels like a missing link between the traditional rugby and the quarter-zip, cut from soft, washed French terry with a sturdy corduroy collar, relaxed fit and, essentially, pockets (!). It’s a oddity from the archives that wears sort of like a proper sweatshirt. More of this from BR would be very welcome.Best Striped Rugby: Madewell RugbyProsUnique striped designs and unexpected colors with the classic rugby shirt design.Hefty French terry fabric that offers both structure and softness.At $98, it’s a nice entry into a rugby shirt without shelling out any big money.ConsThe 27.5-inch body could run short on taller guys, though the boxiness may balance it.Statement stripes and colors might not be for the everyday.Madewell has figured out that most men just want their stuff made a little better, cut a little looser and looking a little cooler. This rugby is the finished equasion: broad, handsome stripes; substantial 100 percent cotton jersey; and a boxy shape that recalls the days when these rugby shirts were worn by rugby players. The woven collar and placket give it enough structure, while the $98 price tag leaves you on the friendly side of three figures. Wear it with jeans, chinos, shorts or anything else that benefits from looking a little roughed up.More Rugby Shirts We LoveMerz b. SchwanenRugby ShirtEverybody’s favourite white T-shirt brand Merz B. Schwanen, also makes one hell of a rugby too, with a throwback look that’s propped up with premium details like organic cotton, a subtle woven herringbone collar all in a relaxed fit.KOTNHarvard Rugby ShirtKOTN has linked-up with Barbarian, a Canadian maker that’s been turning out textbook versions of the rugby shirt since 1981. The partnership marries Barbarian’s know-how—ethically harvested North Carolina cotton, spun and sewn in Canada—with Kotn's eye for modern updates: an oversized fit and 10 contemporary colours.Alex MillGarmeny Dyed RugbyAlex Mill is almost annoyingly good right now, and its range of rugbies shows it. This one's details are an embarrassment of riches: a slightly dropped shoulder, a boxier fit—but the real standout is the tonal collar that keeps the sturdy rugby construction but with more of a polo look.Every Other ThursdayKnitted RugbyNew York-based upstart Every Other Thursday offers tight drops of considered preppy staples. Its knitted rugby is a standout, losing the buttons, opening up the collar and adding ribbed hems.Drake'sQuarter Zip Rugby ShirtDrake’s is known for its classics, but it’s the details that set the brand apart. Take its rugby: the zipper and ring-pull is an immediate departure from tradition, but look closer, the cotton is densely knitted and the body has a slimmer cut with higher armholes that make it easier to slip under a sport coat or tailored jacket.Reigning ChampHeavyweight RugbyThis collared sweatshirt is halfway between the rugby and its shirting cousin, the polo. The covered buttons are there, as are the raglan sleeves and slide slit hem—all backed by Reigning Champ’s usual top-notch construction. The heavyweight cotton is so sturdy you might just wish somebody would tackle you.Margaret HowellRugby ShirtI love Margaret Howell for her ability to take the most familiar British staples and make them unmistakably her own. This rugby swaps bold team colours for khaki and deep green, all rendered in quality Portuguese cotton.L.L.BeanVintage Soft RugbyAnother entry in the Northeastern heritage canon, L.L.Bean makes it’s rugby with heavyweight cotton and a relaxed fit that keep it traditional, while the unexpected colours and patterns add some verve. A sturdy, no-frills classic that asks very little and gives a lot back.NoahButton Tab RugbyNoah always prizes fabric, so it’s only natural that its prep-meets-skate rugby is made in Canada from a hefty 8 oz. cotton Practice Cloth. All while switching up the usual buttons to a distinctive loop-and-tab closure, and adding rib-knit cuffs and a split, vented hem to reinforce the vintage feel.AbercrombiePremium Heavyweight NFL RugbyWhile Abercrombie does also make a classic rugby silhouette, football season just started, and we’re really feeling the NFL versions. The cropped style with some heavyweight cotton and a drop shoulder is also tuned perfectly for right now.How to Style a Rugby ShirtRugby shirts are Swiss-army-knife versatile: you can wear one on its own with jeans or chinos, or sub it into just about any situation you’d typically wear a V-neck sweater with (over a tee or under a blazer) to give your look a little extra laid-back ruggedness. In the right setting, the rugby shirt gives off some serious back-roads, rope-towing, van-driving dirtbag energy, too: It wasn’t that long ago that pioneering outdoor apparel designers like Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard were rocking cotton rugby shirts as they climbed El Capitan.How We Test and Review ProductsStyle is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.How We Make These PicksWe make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)