Wigan Warriors Reveal Special Edition Jersey Created by Derian House Young Designers
Wigan Warriors have unveiled a remarkable surprise in their ongoing partnership with Derian House Children's Hospice - a special-edition third kit warm-up jersey entirely designed by the hospice's own young people. After months of secrecy, the club revealed the bold new design directly to the young creators during an unforgettable surprise visit.
Emotional Unveiling at Derian House
This week, Wigan Warriors players walked through the doors of Derian House and unzipped their hoodies to reveal the vibrant new jersey for the first time. The young designers, who had worked on the project for months, responded with beaming smiles and cheers as they saw their creative vision brought to life.
Adam Keighran and Harry Smith, the Warriors players who made the surprise visit, spent quality time chatting with the young designers, posing for photographs, and even joining in karaoke sessions. The emotional moment marked the culmination of a collaborative design process that began last year.
Creative Collaboration Process
During exclusive workshops held last year, the young people from Derian House shared their personal stories, favorite colors, sketches, and creative ideas. They worked together to weave these elements into a kit design that reflects both the spirit of the hospice and their individual personalities.
"I feel glad and proud of myself that I've designed something that's going to be on a Wigan Warriors' shirt," said Liam, a 23-year-old designer from Wigan. "I wanted to add things from Wigan, because I'm from Wigan. So we added a pie! I thought the design looked fabulous on the shirt."
Evan, an 18-year-old participant, expressed his appreciation for the inclusive approach: "I do like that they decided to include everyone's design. And on my design I had actually spilled a bit of water, and they even designed it with that still on. It just means a lot that Wigan Warriors themselves actually asked me and the others to design one of the shirts."
Vibrant Design and Availability
The resulting jersey features a striking dark green color scheme packed with personality and personal touches from the young designers. The Warriors squad will wear the special kit during pre-match training throughout the 2026 season, giving the young creators regular opportunities to see their work on the pitch.
The jersey is now available for purchase both in-store at Robin Park Arena and online through the official Wigan Warriors shop. Each purchase directly supports Derian House Children's Hospice and its vital work.
Community Spirit and Lasting Impact
Wigan Warriors centre Adam Keighran described the initiative as "pretty special" and emphasized the emotional impact of presenting the finished product to its creators. "For us to put on the shirt and see their reactions was amazing," he said. "It's something they can cherish and tell their families, friends, everyone that they've put their stamp on this."
Scrum-half Harry Smith highlighted the deeper meaning behind the partnership: "This partnership shows exactly what it means to be one of the Warriors. It's not just about playing rugby, it's about building real connections with our community and supporting each other. The memories the young people will get from this will last a long time."
Broader Partnership and Support
The warm-up shirt forms part of a comprehensive partnership between Wigan Warriors and Derian House that includes fundraising initiatives, awareness campaigns, and a dedicated Derian House fixture later in the season. This initiative follows the successful Holly's Kit charity launch, giving fans another opportunity to support the hospice.
Karen Edwards OBE, chief executive of Derian House, emphasized the significance of giving young people ownership of the project: "Everyone at Derian House has a story, and our young people have put their hearts and souls - and lots of creativity - into this project. Seeing their designs come to life is incredible, and wearing it makes you feel part of something bigger."
Derian House currently supports 58 children and families from the Wigan area and more than 400 across the North West, providing specialist respite, palliative and end-of-life care completely free of charge.
Kris Radlinski, chief executive at Wigan Warriors, summarized the project's essence: "This kit perfectly sums up what this club is about - community, trust, and giving back. It's about fans standing with families, celebrating creativity, and showing support in a tangible way. And seeing the young designers' work on the pitch will be absolutely inspiring."
