Trading shirts might be a post-match tradition in international sporting circles but faking shirts is something the New Zealand Customs Service treats very seriously – and it’s the clothing that appears to be copping the flack, according to the agency.

More than 1,000 counterfeit Rugby World Cup 2011 t-shirts were “detained” by Customs in December, a shocking press release announced today.

Customs group manager of investigations and response Bill Perry said the trademark-infringing and “inferior” clothing was being sold on to unsuspecting consumers through discount shops, markets and the internet.

“The only way people can guarantee they are buying genuine Rugby World Cup 2011 clothing is to buy from official licensees and there are only two — Canterbury or Sportfolio,” he said.

Private Bin imagines the official t-shirts are so well behaved they would never be seized by customs, let alone detained.