England shirt 'a mark of respect'

19 September 2014The Rugby Football Union apologised on Wednesday "to those who may have taken offence" over new Canterbury-manufactured shirts - the traditional white jersey and a crimson alternate shirt - featuring Victoria Cross motifs that comprise numerous small rubber grips to help deaden the impact of the ball.

Victoria Cross Trust chairman Gary Stapleton criticised the RFU for having had no contact with the organisation over using the emblem, claiming it had "touched a raw nerve with a lot of people".

The Victoria Cross, the British and Commonwealth armed forces' mos…