- Greenpeace asked for NZR to block the deal
- Ineos branding to appear on team shorts and training kit
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced a six-year partnership with petrochemicals giant Ineos in a deal that is worth around NZ$8 million (US$5.6 million) a year to the national rugby union body, according to reports in the country.
Under the agreement, from 2022 Ineos branding will appear on the back of the playing shorts and on the front of the training jerseys for the All Blacks, Black Ferns, both national sevens teams, the Māori All Blacks, All Blacks XV, as well as the All Blacks Under 20 side.
The main logo on the front of the All Blacks jersey is still on the market as the current deal with AIG expires at the end of 2021.
The UK-based petrochemicals manufacturer will also become the official performance partner of NZR, with the rugby union body joining Ineos' portfolio of sports partners that already includes Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, Ineos Grenadiers cycling team, sailing's Ineos Team UK, as well as soccer clubs OGC Nice and FC Lausanne-Sport. NZR will work with that multi-sport collection of partners to identify opportunities for performance gains that can be shared across the group.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos chairman, said: “[The All Blacks] have consistently shown the grit and determination needed to perform at the highest level of sport and there will be a lot that we can learn from them.”
NZR chief executive, Mark Robinson, added: “To partner with Ineos and be part of such a unique and diverse global sports performance group is an exciting new venture, we are committed to nurturing the development of rugby over the next six years with Ineos Sport and are looking forward to working alongside some of the best sports teams in the world.”
Last month environmental organisation Greenpeace called on both the NZR and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) to reject any deal with the British firm calling Ineos a “merchant of plastic pollution”.
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