Both tops are mainly characterised by a collar with a button placket. Thus, distinguishing rugby shirts from polos is not easy. Both types were initially developed for sport. After that, fashion manufacturers began to produce these shirts for everyday use as well. A special feature of both rugby and polo shirts is the collar. Since the collar is one of the main features of a rugby shirt, the question arises as to how it differs from a polo shirt.
The collar of a rugby shirt is stiffer than that of a polo shirt. It also stands out from the main fabric of the shirt because of its white colour. Typically, the button placket on rugby shirts is also white. Another distinguishing feature is wide horizontal stripes on the shirt.
In the past, the colours stood for the different rugby teams, but today the horizontal stripes are a distinguishing feature of many rugby shirts. However, there are also plainer rugby shirts without stripes for everyday wear. Polo shirts typically do not have horizontal stripes. While polos are usually short-sleeved, rugby shirts usually have long sleeves.