Ruggers are short, rugby-style shorts with an elastic waist and a drawcord, usually in cotton drill or twill. They're the short to pull on for yard work, the farm or a hot day in the shed. If you need somewhere to carry tools, or a bit more leg cover, a longer elastic-waist short or a cargo short is the better fit. "Ruggers" is also a brand name, but this guide covers rugby-style shorts across the brands we list.
The rugby shorts we list
- Ritemate Elastic Waist Rugby Shorts RM301EWS: 311gsm 100% cotton twill, listed as "Mercerized, Double Pre-Shrunk", with an elastic waist, a drawcord and a "3 Pocket Design". It comes in black, bottle, khaki and navy, in waist sizes 72 to 127.
- Syzmik Mens Rugby Short ZS105: 240gsm 100% cotton twill, with an elastic waist and internal drawstring, two side pockets and one back hip pocket. It comes in navy and black, XS to 5XL plus 7XL, and the listing calls it "Short length".
- Aussie Pacific Rugby Mens Shorts 1603: 100% polyester twill, with an elastic waistband and drawcord and a bar-tacked crotch seam. It comes in black, navy, red, royal and white, XXS to 7XL. The listing suggests it for sports teams, clubs and schools, and there's a kids' version, the 3603, in sizes 4 to 16.
The cotton ruggers are the work option. The polyester Aussie Pacific short comes in team colours such as red, royal and white, so it's more of a club or school short than a site short.
How ruggers compare with other work shorts
| Short | Fabric, as listed | Waist | Pockets, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ritemate Rugby RM301EWS | 311gsm cotton twill | Elastic, drawcord | 3 pocket design |
| Ritemate Long Leg RM33EWLS | 311gsm cotton twill | Elastic, drawcord | 3 pocket design |
| Ritemate Utility RM1010 | 190gsm cotton twill | Elastic, drawcord | 6 pocket design, one zipped |
| Ritemate Cargo RM1004S | 311gsm cotton drill | Fixed, belt loops | Cargo pockets |
| Ritemate Cargo RM4040 | 190gsm cotton twill | Fixed, belt loops | 4 inverted, a utility pocket each side |
The RM301EWS and the RM33EWLS share the same fabric and pocket description. The difference is in the title and the photos: the RM33EWLS is the "Long Leg" version. If you like the elastic waist of a rugger but want more leg cover, that's the one to look at.
The step up in pockets comes with the utility and cargo shorts. The RM1010 keeps the elastic waist and adds a concealed zip side pocket and a double-layered crotch gusset. The RM1004S and RM4040 list YKK zippers, and our product photos show a fixed waistband with belt loops, so they suit anyone who wears a belt.
Length: what the listings tell you
Most short listings don't give a leg length. Most of Bisley's men's listings do, which makes them a useful yardstick:
- Rugby Shorts BSHRB1007: 7.5cm (3 inch) in-leg
- Stretch Cotton Drill Shorts BSH1008: 13.5cm (5.5 inch)
- Original Cotton Drill Work Shorts BSH1007: 17cm (6.5 inch)
- Flx & Move Cargo Short BSHC1333: 20cm (8 inch)
- Original 8 Pocket Cargo Short BSHC1007: 25cm (10 inch)
On those figures, Bisley's rugger has less than a third of the in-leg of its 8 pocket cargo short. Elsewhere, length is usually just a word in the title or description, such as Hard Yakka's "Mid Length" Y05160 and "Short Short" Y05161, Ritemate's "Long Leg" or the Syzmik ZS105's "Short length". Some titles give a figure in inches, but unless the listing says "in-leg", don't compare it with the Bisley numbers. If length matters to someone on your crew, measure the in-leg of a pair they already like, compare it with the figures above, and ask us before you order if you're unsure.
Fabric weight
The Ritemate rugger and long leg short are 311gsm, the same weight as the RM1004S cargo short. The Syzmik ZS105 is 240gsm, and the RM1010 and RM4040 are 190gsm. The 311gsm shorts suit rough, abrasive work. The 190gsm pair are the ones to look at if your crew is on their feet in the heat all day. Our summer work shirts guide goes into fabric weight and heat in more detail.
On sun protection, the Ritemate listings state "UPF 50+ Sun Protection - AS 4399:2020", and the Syzmik ZS105 listing says "UPF 50 Rated". The shorter the short, the more leg is left in the sun, so sunscreen still matters.
Sizes and fit for a mixed crew
- Waist sizes. The Ritemate RM301EWS and RM33EWLS run 72 to 127, and the RM1004S 72 to 132.
- Letter sizes. The Ritemate RM1010 is unisex, XS to 5XL. The Syzmik ZS105 and Aussie Pacific 1603 also use letter sizes.
- Men's and women's sizes together. The Ritemate RM4040 cargo short is listed as unisex, with most sizes given as both a men's waist and a women's size, for example "82-W12".
An elastic waist with a drawcord usually gives more leeway between sizes than a fixed waistband does, which helps when you're ordering for a crew without trying everything on.
Browse our full shorts range, or tell us what your crew needs through our custom workwear enquiry form.
