Sourcing men's knitted rugby shirts from China

A flat 12% across the fibre lines

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 22 November 2026, heading 6105 covers men's or boys' knitted or crocheted shirts. For men's knitted rugby shirts, confirm the garment construction and fibre composition rather than relying on the style name. The supplied cotton, synthetic, artificial, wool and other-material lines all carry 12% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duties or suspensions recorded.

The tariff attaches CITES import and export controls to 6105 90 10 00 and 6105 90 90 00. For animal-hair or other unusual fibres, identify the species and check permit requirements before ordering from China. Ask your customs broker to confirm the requirement for the exact material; do not assume the tariff control applies to every shirt in those lines.

Confirm the commodity code using a garment sample and fibre specification. Our men's polo shirts and knit shirts guide covers the wider heading. Use the import duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Specify the rugby collar, stripes and fit

State whether the shirt is for casual wear or playing rugby. Specify the knitted fabric, fibre split, fabric weight, sleeve length, shoulder shape and finished measurements with tolerances. Agree stripe width, colour sequence and alignment at side seams. Define the collar fabric, placket reinforcement, button material, cuff construction and side vents. Approve embroidery position on each size against a finished sample.

The fibre label must show the fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Only safe products should be supplied on the Great Britain market. Agree checks for secure buttons, sharp trim edges and broken needles, alongside wash tests for shrinkage, twisting and colour transfer. Keep the approved sample and inspection records with the order.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2,000 men's cotton knitted rugby shirts, illustrative order only under 6105 10 00 00, invoiced at £7,000 free on board, with £700 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,700. Duty at 12% is £924. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,624, so it is £1,724.80. Import taxes total £2,648.80; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £924 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fabric and stripes: compare fibre information, fabric weight and handle with the approved sample. Check stripe alignment at seams and shade consistency across cartons.

Collar and placket: check collar shape, seam finish, button attachment and reinforcement. Wash a sample to see whether the collar distorts or the placket twists.

Fit and washing: measure garments from each ordered size before and after washing. Check sleeve length, body length, cuff recovery and colour transfer from dark stripes onto the collar.

Branding and packing: check embroidery position, puckering, fibre labels, size labels and carton contents. Use the quality inspection guide to set the inspection brief.

What goes wrong

Dark stripes can stain a pale collar during washing. Stripes can meet unevenly at side seams, while the collar and body can shrink differently. A heavy embroidered crest may pucker the chest panel. Check these features on a washed finished sample before accepting the production specification.

A casual rugby shirt can also disappoint if the buyer expected a close playing fit or reinforced construction. Put the intended use, fit and stress-point reinforcement in the order, then compare delivered garments with the approved sample.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.