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- Pre-existing six-year kit deal worth close to €20 million (US$22 million)
- Renewal signed as England Rugby swap Canterbury for Umbro next season
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), rugby union’s governing body in Ireland, has extended its kit deal with global sportswear manufacturer Canterbury through to the end of the 2023/24 season.
Having first partnered in 2014, the renewal extends Canterbury’s affiliation with national team rugby in Ireland to a decade, including the union’s men’s, women’s, Under 20s, and Sevens national teams.
Canterbury’s existing six-year contract is worth in the region of €20 million (US$22 million) to the IRFU. Though the terms of the new deal have not been disclosed, it will see Canterbury supply Ireland’s kit for the 2021 women’s and 2023 men’s Rugby World Cups, as well as the annual Six Nations Championships.
Padraig Power, the IRFU’s commercial director, said: “Canterbury has been the official kit partner to the IRFU since 2014 and this four-year renewal will make out partnership one of the most enduring in rugby.
“The ongoing quality and appearance of the kit reflects the significant R&D and design expertise which Canterbury brings.”
As part of the deal, Canterbury, which has offices in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, has also committed to growing participation in the sport in Ireland.
That includes support for the IRFU’s Give it a Try initiative, an eight-week programme aimed at encouraging more girls to take up rugby.
Sean Kavanagh, Canterbury’s global director of sports marketing and sponsorship, added: “We’re looking forward to working with the IRFU in developing new product innovations and investing in the next generations of players, including our support of the IRFU initiative to attract more girls into the sport.”
The renewal comes with Canterbury set to lose the English national team from its portfolio in September. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed a kit supply deal with Umbro in February worth a reported UK£5 million (US$6.1 million) annually.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), rugby union’s governing body in Ireland, has extended its kit deal with global sportswear manufacturer Canterbury through to the end of the 2023/24 season.
Having first partnered in 2014, the renewal extends Canterbury’s affiliation with national team rugby in Ireland to a decade, including the union’s men’s, women’s, Under 20s, and Sevens national teams.
Canterbury’s existing six-year contract is worth in the region of €20 million (US$22 million) to the IRFU. Though the terms of the new deal have not been disclosed, it will see Canterbury supply Ireland’s kit for the 2021 women’s and 2023 men’s Rugby World Cups, as well as the annual Six Nations Championships.
Padraig Power, the IRFU’s commercial director, said: “Canterbury has been the official kit partner to the IRFU since 2014 and this four-year renewal will make out partnership one of the most enduring in rugby.
“The ongoing quality and appearance of the kit reflects the significant R&D and design expertise which Canterbury brings.”
As part of the deal, Canterbury, which has offices in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, has also committed to growing participation in the sport in Ireland.
That includes support for the IRFU’s Give it a Try initiative, an eight-week programme aimed at encouraging more girls to take up rugby.
Sean Kavanagh, Canterbury’s global director of sports marketing and sponsorship, added: “We’re looking forward to working with the IRFU in developing new product innovations and investing in the next generations of players, including our support of the IRFU initiative to attract more girls into the sport.”
The renewal comes with Canterbury set to lose the English national team from its portfolio in September. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) confirmed a kit supply deal with Umbro in February worth a reported UK£5 million (US$6.1 million) annually.
