Varsity Blues Rugby Embodies Connection and Respect with New Indigenous-Designed Jerseys

Press Release

October 6, 2025

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s rugby team has been taking the field in jerseys that carry more than just the T leaf. This year, the Blues partnered with Iroqit, an Indigenous woman-owned company based on Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, to design a new look that reflects both tradition and connection.

Founded by Melanie Squire, Iroqit has deep roots in the rugby community. Alongside her design work, Squire helped create Iroquois Roots Rugby, a youth club that fosters development and opportunity for Indigenous players. The Blues have collaborated with the club in the past, making this partnership feel like a natural extension of a long-standing relationship.

(The Blues debuted their new jerseys in their 2025 home opener vs York on September 6, 2025 | Seyran Mammadov)

The project came together with the guidance of assistant coach Sultan Butt, who is a Varsity Blues alumnus himself, and the advocacy of student-athletes Vijay Kuo and Teagh Tremain. Together, they worked closely with Squire and Iroqit to ensure the jersey honored Indigenous design while aligning with Varsity Blues branding standards. The finished product features Ojibway beadwork patterns along the sides, creating a striking design layered with meaning.

For Kuo, wearing the new jersey feels like stepping into something larger than the game itself.

“Wearing this new jersey really means reconnecting. Reconnecting with the Indigenous people of Canada,” he said. “We have a long history with Iroqit. Our previous alumni Sultan Butt and Tyler Lang spent a lot of time working with Iroquois Roots Rugby, which gave us this connection. The different patterns down the sides of the Ojibway beadwork just really brought it all together.”

Tremain echoes that sentiment, noting that the jersey adds depth to an already iconic tradition.

“It’s still the T leaf, so obviously a lot of respect for just putting that on your chest and running out and playing on the pitch,” he explained. “But now with the added meaning of having extra symbolism on the jersey, it adds another layer of the respect that you feel when you put the jersey on and go out and represent the school, and now other communities as well.”

For the Varsity Blues, these jerseys are more than new gear. They symbolize a bridge between the university and Indigenous communities, between alumni and current players, and between history and the present season. As the team pushes through the latter half of their season, the jerseys serve as a constant reminder of respect, responsibility, and the power of sport to unite.

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