MARTIN SAMUEL: For 140 years Ireland have worn green and Wales red… so why change? Colour blindness is a problem but does one of the most traditional fixtures in the sporting calendar need to be reimagined because of it?

Rugby matches between Wales and Ireland go back a long way. Before what we would recognise as a modern scoring system, for instance.

When the countries met for the first time on January 28, 1882, tries did not count unless they were converted. The game was won by goals scored from the boot — conversions following a try, drop goals or a goal from mark, which occurred when a player took a clean catch, shouted ‘mark’ and was then given a free kick.

Wales beat Ireland 2-0 that day. Later in the competition, Scotland and England would draw 0-0, with Scotland awarded the match having scored two unconverted tries.