(CNN)Their all black jerseys are recognizable the world over, but playing with a red poppy on the sleeve to honor those killed in war will be “a special occasion,” according to New Zealand rugby coach Steve Hansen.
The All Blacks and opponents England will both sport the iconic emblem of remembrance when they clash at Twickenham, London Saturday, a day before the centenary of Armistice Day signaling the end of World War I.
The wearing of poppies to commemorate the fallen has raised emotions in recent times, with Manchester United footballer Nemanja Matic refusing to wear one on his shirt last weekend because it reminded him of his childhood when the former Yugoslavia was bombed in a NATO-air campaign that lasted 78 days in 1999.
