Written by Mike Carter, Hull KR Shirts.
On Thursday, 30th May, the Thank Our Forces range for 2024 was revealed. This is the fourth year in a row that Hull KR has teamed with Oxen to produce a Thank Our Forces Range. The range was launched with imagery of Jai Whitbread, Niall Evalds, and new recruit Jack Broadbent modelling each piece.
The first edition of Thank Our Forces in 2021 was dark green, followed by a lighter shade of green in 2022. We saw a complete refresh of the range in 2023 as the club moved to navy, and 2024 sees a somewhat radical switch to red and white. I must admit, it feels strange describing a Hull KR range that is red and white as radical, but it is. It is a complete switch from the three ranges it proceeds, but I have a theory to why…
The 2024 Thank Our Forces range is fairly similar in its resemblance to the Military third shirt of 2014 with the addition of white within the camo design elements. Now, this could be a complete coincidence, but 10 years on feels like an acceptable time frame to release something new of an old design/range, and if it wasn’t intentional it is one heck of a happy accident.
The range itself is much smaller than it started out in 2021, but all of the key lines are still included.
Let’s take a look at each piece…
The tee has been the most popular item by far. In fact, it has been that well received that it sold out within a matter of days. The tee has an all-over red and white camo print styled front and sleeves, with a solid red back. On the reverse is a Robin Icon in its usually space below the collar, and beneath that is the slogan “Thank Our Forces 2024” in what appears to be two-toned red. The Hull KR crest and Oxen maker marker have been dye-sublimated into the shirt, as has the camo style print.
Fear not if you missed out, though. The Club has been able to act fast to secure more, so keep your eyes peeled for more tee stock landing soon.
The vest is identical to the tee, minus the sleeves, obviously. It is an item that I’d expect to be popular through the summer months.
Another item which should be popular is the shorts. Oxen makes some really good shorts, and that has continued here. I must have over 10 pairs of Oxen shorts in varying colours and designs. There aren’t many companies out there that make shorts in this style, with zip pockets. I think that is a huge and unique selling point for these.
The shorts are all red and are the only item in the range to feature an embroidered club crest and maker marker! Another huge win for this item, in my opinion. The camo design is featured within the two side panels to the shorts. Placement that has been used for many varying design elements during the Hull KR and Oxen partnership.
The final piece to the Thank Our Forces 2024 range is the hoody. It features the camo print across the chest in the same way that the marble design elements were added to the 2024 players and coaches range. I don’t mind this so much in this range, but I would have been interested to see what it looked like with the full camo design element added. When I try and picture it in my mind, I think it might have been a bit ‘busy’. The two full-length red sleeves may have not worked well with that either, so they’ve probably nailed the design on this one, too.
The only other piece of embroidery on this range features on the hoody, too, with the Thank Our Forces 2024 slogan being embroidered into the lower back space of the hoody.
In 2023, there was a switch away from generic Thank Our Forces ranges. Previously, we saw other clubs under the Elite Pro Sports banner, like Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers, wearing the exact same products as Hull KR, with the only difference being the club crest. A switch to bespoke designs is much more welcomed, and to see that continuing in 2024 makes me very happy.
This is the only red and white range we have released so far in 2024, with many of the other ranges featuring different colours. Hopefully, this fills the gap for those hoping for some red and white training wear to go with their 2024 home shirts.
The club is yet to state if these will be worn in a pre-game warm-up like in previous years, but Armed Forces Day 2024 is on 29th June. Our closest home game to that is the following week against Catalans Dragons, so we will have to wait and see if it is used pre-game on July 6th.
You can purchase the 2024 Thank Our Forces range by clicking here or from the Fan Experience Zone at Sewell Group Craven Park.
Hull KR Shirts 