Iron Maiden have added the ultimate personal touch to their upcoming New Zealand gigs.

The British rockers have released an All Blacks-themed T-shirt as a tribute to their Rugby World Cup victory last year.

The T-shirt features the band's mummie-like mascot, Eddie, wearing black rugby gear, complete with sweatbands and a ball under his arm, as he charges to the try line in a packed stadium.

SUPPLIED Iron maiden's 2011 tribute to Colin Meads.

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PUNIT PARANJPE British Heavy Metal band Iron Maiden (L to R) Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Nicko Mcbrain and Janick Gers pose during a news conference in Mumbai January 31, 2008. Iron Maiden will be performing in Mumbai on Friday. REUTERS/Punit Paranjpe (INDIA)

There's no mercy for the tackled players left behind him writhing in pain, each representing (in order) the teams the All Blacks defeated in the World Cup.

Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, says he is a huge fan of rugby, and was at both the World Cup finals at Eden Park in 2011 and Twickenham in 2015, to see the All Blacks lift World Cups.

"So the idea for the shirt for this tour is based on admiration and respect for an incredible sporting organisation.

JOHN McMURTRIE/IRONMAIDEN.COM ED FORCE ONE CARDIFF PHOTO COPYRIGHT JOHN McMURTRIE 2016

"We did a tribute to the legend that is Colin Meads on our 2011 NZ tour T-Shirt, which went down so well with the rugby fraternity there (i.e. most everyone!) that AB coach Wayne Smith, a mate for many years and big Maiden fan along with some other current ABs, asked to use this art on some special Ts he was going to use as prizes for the players for outstanding defensive performances in each game of last year's World Cup."

It is understood New Zealand Rugby are relaxed about the T-Shirts as it doesn't feature any silver ferns or logos, so doesn't breach their intellectual property.

Smallwood said he and the band had huge respect for New Zealand's national team, "And anyway, the England team seem to have a great deal of affection for Take That, which is not quite my style!," he said.

Iron Maiden's new studio album The Book of Souls made its debut at #2 in New Zealand.

They will head to New Zealand for the The Book of Souls tour on their enormous and recently repaired Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet - Ed Force One, piloted by vocalist Bruce Dickinson. The jet was damaged﻿ in March after colliding with a tow truck at an airport in Chile.

Christchurch - Horncastle Arena, Friday 29 April 2016. Tickets from Ticketek.co.nz

Auckland - Vector Arena, Sunday 1 May 2016. Tickets from Ticketmaster.co.nz