Global sportswear brand Adidas has signed a partnership that sees it become the official supplier of the Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup match ball.

The biggest rugby club tournament in the world, the Heineken Cup, will use Adidas’ Torpedo Respect ball for all matches in the 2009/2010 season.

Under the agreement signed with ERC, organisers of both the Heineken Cup and newly titled Amlin Challenge Cup, Adidas will provide the official match ball for both European tournaments, as well as referee apparel, adding to its top-end rugby partnerships. The company currently sponsors the New Zealand Rugby Union and All Blacks team along with the British and Irish Lions, two time Heineken Cup Champions Munster and Stade Français.

Max van den Doel, head of Adidas sports marketing for team sports, said: “This partnership with the ERC is the perfect platform to highlight the outstanding performance of the Adidas Torpedo ball. We are looking forward to working closely with the ERC to further strengthen the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups and bring the game of rugby to even more fans across the globe.”

Derek McGrath, ERC chief executive added: “The Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup have grown to become European tournaments with a global appeal and this partnership with this innovative and world-class brand reflects that status. The new Adidas European ball and apparel matches our joint ambition of setting the standards within the game. We are very excited about the new energy that Adidas will bring to the tournaments and together we look forward to taking European rugby to even more territories and audiences worldwide.”