Entelar Group front-of-shirt for men's new home kit

Dynasty Sport has paid homage to the Wellington Phoenix’s past in designing the men’s home strip for the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League.

The first kit unveiled by the club’s new apparel partner sees a return to our traditional yellow and black striped shirt and black shorts made famous by the Phoenix’s first finals team.

The new replica men’s shirt is available for purchase from the club’s new online store now.

Entelar Group is the front-of-shirt sponsor for the Phoenix men this season, with New Zealand’s total connection company returning as one of the club’s principal partners.

The Entelar Group logo will also proudly feature on the women’s two alternate away strips, which will be unveiled in September closer to the start of the Ninja A-League season.

Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues poses in the new Wellington Phoenix men’s kit for the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League. Photo: Ben Iriving/benicreative.

And in partnership with the Phoenix, Entelar is committed to supporting the technology needs of local schools and community football clubs across Te Whanganui-a-Tara and beyond.

Entelar Group CEO Rajesh Singh says they’re proud to feature on the front of the home kit this season and continue their partnership with OPPO as the club’s principal partners.

“This iconic jersey reflects both tradition and progress – values that resonate deeply with Entelar Group,” Singh said.

“Together with the Wellington Phoenix, we’re committed to supporting our communities across New Zealand including local schools and grassroots clubs.

“We’re also looking forward to continuing the Nix in Schools programme, helping young kids meet and play with their football heroes.”

Luke Supyk, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues and Matt Sheridan pose in the new Wellington Phoenix men’s kit for the 2025-26 Isuzu UTE A-League. Photo: Ben Irving/benicreative.

As has been the case for the past three seasons, the men’s kit features the tohu gifted to the Phoenix by local iwi Te Āti Awa.

The tohu is woven into the black stripes while Te Raukura (the plume of white feathers), which is an important symbol to the tribes who affiliate to Te Āti Awa and other Taranaki iwi, once again takes centre stage on the front of the shirt.

Phoenix men’s captain Alex Rufer has welcomed the return of the traditional yellow and black stripes.

“I have fond memories of watching the Phoenix play in a similar kit to this when the likes of Paul Ifill were playing,” Rufer said.

“And when I first joined the club we had the yellow and black stripes so it’s great to see them back.

“Dynasty has done a fantastic job producing this year’s strip and I can’t wait to pull it on and represent the Phoenix with pride.”

As well as being available for purchase from the club’s online store today, the men’s new replica shirt will be in selected Rebel Sport stores tomorrow (Friday, July 11) and on sale at Sky Stadium for the much-anticipated match against Wrexham AFC on Saturday week (July 19).

About the tohu gifted to the Wellington Phoenix:

Acclaimed designer Charmaine Love created a tohu on behalf of Te Āti Awa ki Te Whanganui a Tara in 2022. This taonga was gifted to the Wellington Phoenix and the design was first incorporated into the team’s kit for the 2022-23 A-Leagues.

Te Raukura (the white feather or plume of white feathers) is centred on the front of the shirts. It is an important symbol to the tribes who affiliate to Te Āti Awa and other Taranaki Iwi. Te Raukura symbolises the peaceful resistance of their tupuna at Parihaka in the 1880s and the white feather is still worn by their descendants today. Te Raukura represents spiritual, physical, and communal harmony and unity. It is an acknowledgement of a higher spiritual power and is a symbol of faith, hope, and compassion for all.

Ngake and Whātaitai, the two taniwha of Wellington harbour Te Whanganui-a-Tara feature on either side of the tohu. Taniwha are mythical Māori creatures and guardians and represent mauri (life force) of a place in physical form and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

A surrounding element of the tohu features koru (the unfurling new leaf of the ponga fern), symbolising new life, growth, strength and peace. The koru represents the whenua and tangata of Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Ngaru (waves) and mangōpare (hammerhead shark) are also integrated in the tohu. The ngaru represents the cutting of the waves when waka travelled the waters of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. The mangōpare represents and symbolises strength, courage, determination, leadership and a fighting spirit, all values shared with the Wellington Phoenix.

The tohu also features Taranaki maunga which is hugely important to mana whenua and considered tapu.

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