Castore, the emerging UK sportswear brand, has signed up as the new apparel supplier of the Sydney Roosters, of Australia's National Rugby League.

The five-year contract is Castore's first move into rugby league and indeed Australia.

Castore succeeds ISC, the Australian clothing manufacturer, which has been the long-term kit supplier of the Roosters. 

Thomas Beahon, managing director of Castore, said: "We are thrilled to enter this partnership with the Sydney Roosters, one of Australia’s most successful sporting franchises... This is our first foray into the Australian market, and we are delighted to be doing so by manufacturing and featuring on the famous Tricolours jersey."

Jarrod Johnstone, chief operating officer of the Roosters, added: "The Roosters are proud to have been approached and identified by Castore for their first Australian sporting partnership. Having met with Thomas and his staff whilst in the UK for the World Club Challenge earlier this year, we were impressed with their desire for both quality and fabric performance.

"The Australian Sporting marketing landscape is one of the most competitive in the world and to be identified by Castore as their preferred club is very humbling. We look forward to unveiling an exciting range of products for our Members and fans."

As exclusively reported by Sportcal in May, Castore is the kit supplier to Scottish club Rangers in a long-term deal that began with the 2020-21 season.

In February, it announced plans to expand into soccer after securing private investment of £7.5 million ($9.8 million), and said it was targeting technical partnerships with clubs in England's Premier League, Spain’s LaLiga and Germany's Bundesliga. Rugby and cricket deals were also said to be on the radar.

Castore made its first foray into sport in January 2019 when it signed up Scottish tennis star Andy Murray in a kit supply deal, and 12 months later it became the kit supplier of the West Indies cricket team in a three-year deal.

Sportcal