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The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has extended its kit deal with Canterbury until the end of the 2028 season.
Contract:
- Four-year renewal sees Canterbury continue as official kit supplier to all Irish rugby union national teams, including men’s, women’s, underage and sevens sides.
- New Zealand-based sportswear brand will also produce match day and training wear, as well as supporter wear
- Canterbury extends title sponsorship of the IRFU’s ‘Give It A Try” programme, a grassroots initiative designed to give girls aged between 8 and 14 the opportunity to learn how to play rugby
- Canterbury and the IRFU extend arrangement with Intersport Elverys to be the official retail partner of the national governing body in the UK and Ireland, and the exclusive operator of the official IRFU online store.
Context:
The tie-up marks the latest extension between the IRFU and Canterbury. The pair first partnered from 2000 to 2009 before Puma took over as kit supplier until 2014 before Canterbury returned. The extension will bring the total duration of the partnership between the IRFU and Canterbury to 23 years.
The value of the deal has not been disclosed but the pair’s previous contract was reportedly worth €4 million (US$4.3 million) per year.
Comment:
“As official kit partner to the IRFU since 2014, Canterbury shares our ambition to grow the game in Ireland,” said Padraig Power, chief commercial officer of the IRFU.
“Canterbury’s consistency in producing unparalleled design, and technically excellent kit continues to give our teams an edge on the field and our supporters great choice in leisure wear. We’re very excited to see our men’s team take to the pitch at Rugby World Cup and we are also looking forward to our women’s team participating in the inaugural WXV later in the year.”
Coming next:
Ireland’s men’s side, who are ranked number one in the world, kick off their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Romania at Stade de Bordeaux on 9th September.
