Sanzaar says the Highlanders’ blue jersey for the match against the Vodacom Bulls was approved because there looked to be enough contrast between the teams’ kits based on a colour chart used.

The Bulls hosted the Highlanders at Loftus, but when the sides took the field they were in almost identical colour kit, which made it nearly impossible to differentiate between the teams.

The Bulls ultimately compromised by changing into a yellow-and-white strip for the second half. On Monday Blue Bulls Company CEO Alfons Meyer said he was left perplexed as to how the governing body could sign off on the Highlanders donning blue jerseys at Loftus.

According to Netwerk24, Sanzaar has now come out to defend their initial decision, which was based on a colour chart.

Sanzaar spokesman Greg Thomas said the organisation is happy the confusion was cleared up at half time and will do everything in its power to avoid a similar incident.

Thomas admitted team jerseys are pre-determined by Sanzaar based on a colour chart used for all Super Rugby matches before the competition kicks off and that at the time there appeared to enough contrast between the Bulls’ blue kit and the Highlanders’ blue kit.

When probed about whose responsibility it was to intervene before kick-off after it became clear that there was striking similarities between the kits, Thomas declined to comment.