Monthly Archives: June 2008

Rhino Pure Rugby, the new playing kit and apparel brand launched by Rhino recently has already landed two major UK professional clubs in four year shirt and apparel deals from the coming season.

Northampton Saints, newly promoted to the English Premiership, were Rhino’s first signing since the strategic decision to make a significant push into this product area together with Midlands based merchandising and apparel specialists Trimerchandise. Saints CEO Allan Robson comments: "Rhino as a brand has a great rugby heritage and we were additionally very impressed by the Trimerchandise track record. We are delighted to be wearing and working with the Rhino Pure Rugby brand in this very important season for our club".

The deal was followed shortly afterwards by one with Magners Celtic League and Heineken Cup contenders Edinburgh, via the Scottish Rugby Union. Edinburgh CEO Nic Cartwright was equally enthusiastic: "The Rhino Pure Rugby team are extremely professional and experienced and we are very confident they will produce excellent products for our players and our supporters".

Rhino Pure Rugby head of sales Jason Critchley comments: "These are very significant deals for the Rhino Pure Rugby brand coming so soon after its launch, and taken together with our tie up with Combined Services, they represent a great platform for further roll out of the brand at all levels of the game".

Edinburgh University, sponsored by Rhino Rugby, recently completed a historic tour of Japan. Celebrating its 150th anniversary this season, EURFC undertook a gruelling five match 15-day tour in the heat of June, coming away with a 4-1 record. Playing their toughest game first, they went down 33-20 in a very entertaining game against Osaka Physical Education University, then went on to record wins against Kyoto University (52-21), a Kobe Invitation XV (61-7), Tokyo University (49-22) and the National Defence Academy (32-12).

Club captain Kyle Vivian commented: "This was a fantastic trip, and we couldn't have done it with without Rhino's backing and organisation. We are incredibly grateful to them".

Rhino has been represented for over 25 years in Japan by Tsuguo Suzuki of Suzuki Rugby, who has sold over 100 scrum machines in this period, many of which were in evidence at the various training and playing facilities used by the touring side. Japan is to host the 2009 IRB Under-20 Junior World Championship, and Rhino is determined to follow its Official Supplier role for the 2008 tournament just completed in Wales, with a similar role next year.

Andrew Jepson, a former RFU Youth Development Officer, and a long time resident of Italy, has been appointed as Rhino Rugby's Sales Agent in that country.

Prior to his work with the RFU from 1993 to 2000, Jepson had his first spell in Italy as club coach and development officer for RC San Bernedetto for eight years and since returning to the country has worked with both the Viadana and Fermo clubs in a variety of coaching and administration roles, in addition to running his own coaching and business training consultancy. He was additionally liaison officer to the Italian side in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

"Andrew's knowledge of and contacts in the Italian game are considerable" comments Rhino Chief Executive , Reg Clark, " we are delighted to have him on board in this rapidly growing rugby nation".

"I believe the potential for the Rhino brand, in both its traditional scrummaging machine and contact and training equipment and its new on field kit and apparel lines, is considerable in Italy" says Jepson "and I look forward to being part of the growth of the company".

RHINO SIGNS NEW OFFICIAL SUPPLIER DEAL WITH LONDON WASPS

Rhino recently announced a new Official Supplier deal with London Wasps.

Just one week before the Guinness Premiership final in which Wasps triumphed over Leicester, Wasps players and officials, including recently appointed Lions coach Ian McGeechan, Chief Executive Tony Copsey, Joe Worsley, Tim Payne, Paul Sackey, Eoin Reddan, Tom Palmer, Raphael Ibanez and Mark van Gisbergen, gathered at the Rhino offices for drinks and canapés to celebrate the deal.

For Rhino’s Martin Johnson, hosting the event, it was his last official function before stepping down as a director to take up the England Team Manager job. Johnson, who will remain a Rhino shareholder and firmly associated with the brand going ahead, commented: “Given Rhino’s new location in West London, an Official Supplier contract with a leading London club makes a lot of sense, and in this respect there is no better option for us than Wasps”. Wasps, whose training ground is a 10 minute drive from Rhino’s offices and factory in Chiswick, have committed to a two year deal whereby Rhino will supply them with all of their contact and training equipment. They have been using a top of the range Rhino scrummaging machine for sometime already.

Following on from Rhino’s recently announced deal with the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2009, the London Wasps deal complements Rhino’s longstanding Official Supplier arrangements with England, Wales, Bath and the Cardiff Blues.