The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) governing body has brought in drinkware brand Hydro Flask as a new commercial partner.
Through a tie-up unveiled today, Hydro Flask – distributed by the Compendium Group in Australia and New Zealand – becomes a partner of the men's Kiwis and women's Kiwi Ferns national teams for the remainder of 2026.
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The deal also applies to wheelchair rugby league's Wheel Kiwis.
Motu Tony, general manager of football and high performance at NZRL, commented: "Hydro Flask's focus on durability and creating products built to support active lifestyles makes them a great fit for rugby league, and we're excited to partner with them this year."
Jonathan Lopes da Silva, Compendium Group's co-chief executive, added: "It [this partnership] is about supporting athletes as they train, travel, and compete, and being a small part of their journey as they represent New Zealand on the world stage. We can't wait to see Hydro Flask alongside the teams throughout what is set to be a huge year for New Zealand rugby league."
In terms of recent NZRL commercial activity, mid-July saw the body announce Chinese technology company Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI) as a new partner, also covering the remainder of 2026.
DJI becomes the NZRL’s technology partner, with the agreement to focus on the company’s range of camera products, including drones, handheld vlogging devices, stabilizing and filmmaking gear, and accessories.
The new partnership comes as New Zealand prepares to co-host the 2026 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) alongside Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in October and November.
The 2026 tri-tournament RLWC in Australia, New Zealand, and PNG is a replacement for the 2025 RLWC, which was canceled after France withdrew from hosting the event for financial reasons.
