This year the Hunters Hill Juniors have followed the lead of our Nations top teams by having shorts without pockets. The Waratahs, Western Force, Brumbies and Reds have all done away with pockets many years ago. Our National team the Wallabies have not had pockets since 1999. Even the English National team no longer have pockets ( and they are the reported inventor of them).

So the question has been asked as to why do/did rugby shorts have pockets anyway. The Sydney Morning Herald ran the question and the attachment highlights  some of the answers. Most people when I have asked answer - "its to put your mouth guard in"- I then ask why two pockets and why so big.

Pockets in Rugby shorts have been a puzzling addition to the the uniform. In the 60's and 70's in Australia Junior rugby shorts were made with an internal pocket where a foam pad was inserted to help when you hit the concrete like grounds that we all played on. I remember playing for First Grade at School in 1976 and 1977 ( sadly I still have the shorts) and alas no pockets to be found. In Fact the shorts were a full nylon construction, we must have been fashion setters.
 
Sometime in the 80's rugby shorts began appearing with two very large and comfortable pockets that naturally seemed to accommodate your hands. Having coached juniors now for 8 years I was always frustrated to see the under 7 boys happily standing on the field with there hands in the pockets, it was just such a natural thing to do with 2 large and inviting pockets to put your cold little hands into. I had some boys who seemed to have their hands in their pockets more of the game than having them out of their pockets. I did revert to sewing up two boys pockets in the under 8's in the hope that they might actually have there hands out in front of them ready to  catch a rugby ball. It was an instant success.
 
Anyway.
The Main reason that pockets have been phased out is two fold. The fifth biggest injury in rugby is broken, sprained, bruised and dislocated thumbs. The catching of the thumb in both a players own pocket and that of the opposition was reported as a significant contributor to the injury statistic.

Secondly the move towards a tighter and more streamlined outfit ( not just in rugby but all sports- you just have to look at the swimming "body suit" to see the development) meant uniform designers  quickly dropped the gapping pockets and old cotton design to give a lighter, tighter and faster short.
 
This year Hunters Hill moved with the times and at the gear day at the beginning of the season we had the old stock "Cotton Drill" shorts with 2 pockets for sale and we also had the New Nylon no pocket design with Hunters Hill printed down the sides. We sold 4 pair of the old shorts and 208 of the new ones. Even thought the old ones were cheaper.....
 
The Majority definitely chose the new design.
 
There has been a very small amount of opposition particularly from people who openly admit that they are "traditionalists". The old shorts are available for those who don't wish to embrace the Wallaby and Waratah style of shorts. With the current take up of the old shorts we have enough stock for a lot of years for those who want to remain as Traditionalists.
 
The next order of shorts will have a small mesh pocket inside the waist that will accommodate your mouth guard. Up until then the mouth guard can always go into the top of the sock when it is not doing its job in the mouth.
 
At 48 years old I will be playing the rest of the season for Hunters Hill 5th grade and Golden oldies in my old shorts my very very old black boots and I will be wearing my very old head gear. My 13 year old son prefers the new shorts with his red boots and a high performance head gear- of and of coarse a pair of tights that are now fashionably called skins.......

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Cheers,
 
Rod Salmon