The Rugby Football Union (RFU) today announced it has renewed its long-term partnership with Canterbury, the world’s leading rugby brand, as Official Team Kit Partner.
The four year extension, which begins on 31 August 2016 and runs until beyond the Rugby World Cup in 2019, will see Canterbury continue to supply kit and training wear to the England senior team, as well as the Saxons, England Sevens, England Women’s and age grade teams.
Canterbury remains a committed partner of the grassroots game as Official Partner of All Schools, one of the RFU’s flagship legacy programmes to increase participation in rugby. The brand will also become Official Partner of the 2016 World Rugby U20 Championship which will be hosted in England.
This renewed partnership extends and expands the relationship of two brands with great rugby heritage and tradition, in addition to an unrivalled passion for the sport and its fans. For the RFU it also allows continued investment into all levels of the game.
Sophie Goldschmidt, RFU Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, said:
“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Canterbury, who have such a strong brand and rugby heritage. Over the past four years we have built an extremely strong relationship that has ensured the England teams have the best technical kit available to them both on and off the pitch. Canterbury is also a valued partner in the grassroots game, having supplied over 300 schools new to rugby with their own bespoke rugby kits via All Schools. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership over the next four years.”
Chris Stephenson, CEO, Canterbury, said:
“The extension to our partnership with England is the next exciting chapter in our 111 year history within rugby. Our commitment to the game spans from the grassroots to the very elite of rugby, and we are thrilled to continue our relationship with the RFU until beyond the next Rugby World Cup in 2019. This new agreement cements our standing as the leading brand in rugby, ahead of the biggest event in rugby’s history, the Rugby World Cup 2015.”
