England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) governing body has extended its long-standing partnerships with rugby equipment brands Gilbert and Rhino.
Gilbert, an official supplier to England’s national teams and a prominent brand in the sport, will continue to supply match balls, training equipment, and RFU match official clothing under a new agreement.
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The renewal marks more than 25 years of official partnership between the two parties.
Claudio Borges, RFU’s executive director of commercial and marketing, said: “Gilbert is a truly famous rugby brand and is engrained in our sport. Having a close relationship between the RFU and Gilbert just makes sense.
“Our partnership goes back over 25 years, and we are excited that we will continue working together for the foreseeable future.”
Meanwhile, the renewed agreement with Rhino will see the brand continue as the official supplier of scrum machines to England Rugby.
Rhino will provide scrum machines and selected equipment to both the England men’s and women’s teams.
The extension will see the relationship between the RFU and Rhino stretch to over 50 years.
Dave Reynish, managing director of Rhino, said: “Rhino and England Rugby is one of the sport’s most enduring partnerships. England players and coaches have always played a vital role in developing our equipment.”
Gilbert also has a long-term association with the World Rugby governing body, which was extended last December until 2033.
Under that agreement, the brand remains the official ball supplier for all World Rugby 15s competitions and Rugby World Cups.
Gilbert, which is nearly 200 years old, has a long-standing presence in rugby and served as the ball supplier for the British & Irish Lions’ tour to Australia last year.
Rhino is also a prominent sponsor in the sport and has partnerships with the likes of the South African Rugby Union, Welsh Rugby Union, and the Rugby Europe and Asia Rugby continental bodies.
In terms of recent commercial activity for the RFU, the organization announced a landmark principal partnership agreement with UK bank Lloyds last month, making it the first official back-of-shirt sponsor for the men’s and women’s senior teams.
Earlier this year, the national body also renewed its deal with UK-based premium menswear brand Charles Tyrwhitt and brought in French IT firm Capgemini as its official digital transformation partner.
