Monthly Archives: August 2012

For the second successive year Rhino was a major sponsor of the Piotrowice Nyskie International Rugby Festival staged on the border of Poland and the Czech Republic over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The national side of the Czech Republic defeated club side Lechia Gdansk 22-7 to win the Rhino Rugby Trophy in the Womens Sevens section of the tournament.

Hosted by Englishman Jim Parton and his Polish wife Anna, the Festival was another huge success with teams from all over Central & Eastern Europe competing, often travelling considerable distances to do so.

The Mens Sevens for the Rule Financial Trophy played in a league format was won by a strong Austrian national side, with Polish club team Wrocław narrowly edging out Hackney from North London for the runners up spot on points difference. In the Mens XVs final Vienna Celtic defeated a Kew Occasionals Invitational XV from West London 41-10 to win the Jones Lang LaSalle Trophy.

The Czech Republic and Lechia Gdansk sides after the final of the Rhino Rugby Trophy
Rhino Teamwear produced the official tournament T shirts	Rhino CEO Reg Clark sporting a RhinoGB 'Union Jacket' presents the Move One Trophy for the tournament MVP to Irish scrum half Anna Caplice who played for the Austrian national womens sevens team. Vienna Celtic vs Kew Occasionals

Rhino Rugby of the UK and Powa Products of New Zealand have announced a strategic partnership which formalises an already close working relationship between the leading rugby equipment manufacturers of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres respectively.

The partnership provides for a strategic cross-licensing of products – Rhino will be taking the European distribution rights to Powa’s popular portable one man scrum machine, and Powa will manufacture and distribute the groundbreaking Rhino Collision King machine in New Zealand. It also provides for joint initiatives on future product development and co-operation to promote the game in developing rugby nations.

Reg Clark, Rhino CEO commented “we have for some time had a close interpersonal relationship with our friendly rivals at Powa, and I am delighted that this has now led to a formal partnership arrangement”.

Chris Deighton, founder and General Manager at Powa was equally enthusiastic: “we are delighted to be formalising our already close relationship with Rhino. This is a positive, value adding move not only for both companies, but also for the game itself”.

Rhino Rugby has confirmed its involvement at Rugby Expo for the third consecutive year, by signing as an official supplier to this year's event taking place at Twickenham on 14 – 15 November.

As one of the world's most innovative and well-known rugby brands, Rhino will be showcasing a number of its leading product lines at this year's event including its fashion and leisurewear range RhinoGB and Rhino-Turf, which will be supplied as part of the entrance to both the exhibition floor, whilst also creating a 'green carpet' for the Rugby Expo Awards Dinner, taking place on the evening of day one of the event.

"We are very much looking forward to being a part of Rugby Expo 2012 and are delighted to see it return to Twickenham following the success of last year's event," confirmed Reg Clark, chief executive of Rhino Rugby.

"Rugby Expo provides us with the perfect platform to showcase our brand and our various product lines to not only professional clubs but also to a significant number of community rugby clubs, facilitated greatly by the event's ticketing strategy."

Rugby Expo will again be implementing a ticketing policy that will provide complimentary tickets for community clubs to attend day two of the event, made available through partnerships with a number of home unions as well as the community programmes of professional clubs.

Rhino Rugby will also be teaming up with Browns Sports & Leisure Resort to promote a not-to-be-missed competition, where one lucky team will win a five night's stay at the popular training resort in Portugal. Clubs and schools can enter the prize draw by visiting Browns staff at Rhino Rugby's stand, with the winning team announced at the end of day two of Rugby Expo. Full details of the competition will be announced over the next few weeks.

Richie Gray inventor of the Rhino Collision King with his Technical Innovation Award at 2011 Rugby Expo

Jonathan Wilson, event director for Rugby Expo said: "It's great to have Rhino involved again at Rugby Expo. Rhino Rugby is one of the sport's biggest brands and through the company's partnership with Browns, its involvement this year will be bigger than ever. We're looking forward to Reg and his team joining us for what promises to be a busy two days in November."

Rhino Rugby will also use Rugby Expo to launch the official ball range of the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, with more details to follow as the event nears.

Rugby Expo will welcome over 1000 delegates across the two days, combining an unrivalled conference programme, interactive workshops and busy exhibition floor.

For more information on attending Rugby Expo or becoming a sponsor or exhibitor at the event, visit www.rugbyexpo.com.