 Red-shirted fans celebrate Wales' 2005 Grand Slam victory |
A row has broken out between retailers over a supermarket's decision to start selling cut-price rugby shirts as the Six Nations tournament begins. Asda has defended its decision to cut the price of Wales rugby shirts to �30, which is �15 less than they retail for in many independent sports shops.
The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales said that could have a knock-on effect on smaller retailers.
Asda said it believed "there was room for everybody" in the marketplace.
Spokeswoman Rachel Fellows told BBC Radio Wales that rugby shirts were one of the "must-have items" during the Six Nations tournament.
"We were the place to come for the Ashes kits last year when everyone went cricket-crazy, so they [customers] expect us to be able to go out there and do the same for them for the Six Nations.
"We have been able to source the merchandise from the "grey market" [not direct from the producer] because we weren't able to get supplies from the manufacturer.
"We've been able to make quite a considerable saving by going to Europe and getting this stock that other retailers don't want."
"Of course we have passed that saving back on to the customer."
Room
One independent retailer Bob Harling, from Sports Mad in Cardiff, accused Asda of "getting on the bandwagon".
"This is obviously a high-profile game, England-Wales," he said.
"We as a small independent support the Welsh rugby shirt throughout the year.
"It just seems strange to me that this game comes up, a high-profile game, and Asda are just out to make a quick buck."
He is convinced his sales will be affected when people hear Asda is selling the shirts for �15 less than he can.
"They obviously won't come to my shop and buy the shirts that we sell at the recommended price set by the manufacturers themselves."
"We're not out to make massive profits. We're just there to survive for 52 weeks of the year on something that we sell 52 weeks of the year," he added.
But Ms Fellows believes there is room for both their businesses in this particular market.
She said: "We don't claim to be all things to all men when it comes to sports equipment.
"We think there is room for everybody - there are independent retailers that do very well on the high street and do all sorts of things that we don't do."
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We're just there to survive for 52 weeks of the year on something that we sell 52 weeks of the year
