​THE Waratahs will honour their strong Pacific Island connections by wearing a Pasifika jersey at their next home game.​

The custom-made jersey, which was designed by players in the team, will be worn by the Tahs when they play the Jaguares on July 8.

The Pasifika motifs on the blue jersey were chosen by the team to signify “the cultural and historical relationships that the players have with their homelands and family”.

media_camera Waratahs unveil their Pasifika jersey.

The game will be part of a multicultural round of Super Rugby and will recognise the significant contributions to rugby of the peoples of the islands of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, the Waratahs said.

Like most Australian Super Rugby sides, the Waratahs have historically had a strong contingent of players with Pacific Island heritage, including Israel Folau, Will Skelton, Taqele Naiyarvoro, Sekope Kepu, Tolu Latu and Senior Toleafoa.

“When we go out there to play on the field, we carry our culture and that’s a big part of who we are. We just want to make our families and all our families back home proud of us,” Folau said in a Waratahs statement.

“I love the designs that have come out of the jersey. It’s obviously something that means a lot to me and the rest of the Polynesian boys in the team.”

media_camera The Waratah have a strong connection with Pacific Islands.

Skelton said it would be a privilege to wear the jersey.

“Not only are we representing NSW but with the patterns and the designs that we have on it, it represents my culture which is Samoa and a lot of other cultures, so it’s a massive honour,” he said.

“I don’t have tattoos but wearing this jersey makes me feel like I do and I know there are a lot of traditions in the islands about having tattoos and there are certain rituals you have to go through. So just to have this on our jerseys, is a privilege and an honour.”

The Waratahs will auction their jerseys for charity after the Jaguares game.