All at Rhino Rugby – staff, directors and shareholders, both past and present – offer their sincere condolences to the family of the legendary Andy Ripley who sadly passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

Andy was instrumental in organising the Business Expansion Scheme share issue that followed the incorporation of Rhino’s original holding company (‘The Incredibly Fit Co’, as described in his obituary in today’s Daily Telegraph) in 1988 and was a significant shareholder and Chairman of the board of the company for 18 years. He was a constant source of good advice, humour and inspiration throughout this time , and was delighted at the success of the MBI in 2006, attending with his family the celebration of the deal hosted by Martin Johnson at Twickenham.

Rhino CEO Reg Clark was pleased in particular to be able to meet Andy one final time at the recent Rugby Players Association Dinner which featured a highly emotional presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to the England and Lions number 8, who was also recently awarded the OBE for his services to sport.

There will be many eulogies and tributes paid to this truly great man in the coming days – Rhino would simply like to add our own small contribution to that in appreciation of everything he did for our company.

England Saxons training on the Rhino 2000 in New Jersey

The Springboks today unveiled their new Rhino Dictator scrum machine to the press in Cape Town. Following its purchase by the South African Rugby Union, Rhino agreed to 're-livery'the machine into Springbok green and SARU's sponsor SASOL alongside the usual Rhino branding. Springbok forward coach Gary Gold, coach Pieter de Villiers and scrum advisor Os du Rand posed for the press alongside the machine. The Dictator is also the current scrum machine of choice of the British & Irish Lions and the England, Wales and Scotland national squads.

Rhino is hoping to follow up this flagship sale with a re-launch of our brand into the South African market - the company’s original 'Powerhouse' roller-style machine is still much in evidence in clubs and schools around the country as we had a lot of early success in selling this model there in the 1980's. As we all know, Rhino machines do last forever!

Watch the video here