Can the colour of your team’s jersey make you more susceptible to injury? Researchers in Queensland, Australia have found that wearing dark rugby jerseys can do just that. Darker colours absorb more heat than lighter colours and can cause a person to experience heat stress. This is occurring, with regularity, to junior (under 14) rugby players. According to Dr. Kenji Doma of James Cook University, “When you’re exposed to a lot of heat, it can impact your performance, your balance, your technique, and your decision-making skills can also be impaired.” As a full contact sport, rugby requires a great deal of agility and quick decision making. Teams that have changed to lighter, more colourful uniforms are finding that their players’ cognitive abilities are improving.