Monthly Archives: June 2012

Rhino CEO Reg Clark took the opportunity of a recent Lions sponsors visit to Australia ahead of next year’s tour, to have a series of reunions in Sydney and at the first test against Wales in Brisbane with former friends and colleagues with links to his past with Oxford University RFC and Kobe Steel in Japan.

After winning Blues in 1978 and 1979 with Oxford, Clark played for 3 seasons with the Kobe Steel side in Japan, and after a City career rejoined the company in London. Before that in 1985 he helped establish the Kobe Steel Scholarships for Australian students at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. In Brisbane he was able to meet Wallabies Bill Campbell and Ian Williams both of whom were Kobe Scholars and who played in the 1987 and 1988 Varsity Matches respectively. In addition to these two, Clark was able to link up with Simon Wensley, who played alongside Williams in the 1988 Oxford side, and afterwards joined him in the Kobe Steel side which won seven consecutive Japanese championships in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Campbell who won 22 Australian caps as a lock from 1986 to 1990 is now a leading vascular surgeon in Melbourne, and Williams a partner with law firm Ashursts in Sydney and Brisbane. Williams won 17 caps for the Wallabies, including 2 against the 1989 Lions, and remarkably also one for Japan in 1993 against Wales in Cardiff. Welshman Wensley is now Chief Operating Officer with Rio Tino Energy in Brisbane.

Earlier Clark was able to link up with current Australian Team Manager Bob Egerton and New Zealand 1987 World Cup Winning captain David Kirk, both residents of Sydney and both also members with Williams and Wensley of Oxford’s 1988 side which is considered by many to be their best ever.

Ian Williams, Reg Clark and Simon Wensley before the recent Australia – Wales test.

Reg Clark with Bill Campbell, in Brisbane.

Reg Clark with David Walter and Tim Lambert of Rhino Rugby Asia

The British & Irish Lions recently staged a  promotional press launch and lunch in Hong Kong exactly one year ahead of the historic fixture against the world famous Barbarians invitational side which will kick off the Lions tour to Australia next year. The game will take place on June 1^st 2013 and 200 guests joined Lions Tour Manager Andy Irvine and Chairman Gerald Davies at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong, and legendary Wallaby captain John Eales to set the scene for the game.

Rhino Rugby were guests of the Lions as Offcial Suppliers of both training equipment and training and commemorate balls to the tour.  Rhino CEO Reg Clark took the opportunity to showcase RhinoGB’s sensational ‘Union Jacket’ which looks set to become a firm favourite with many of the Lions supporters on the tour.

Earlier the same day Rhino Rugby launched its designs for the tour ball together with Andy Irvine at a press conference.

Reg Clark, David Walter, Tim Lambert of Rhino Rugby Asia and Robbie McRobbie of the Hong Kong Rugby Union and guests on the joint Rhino – HKRU table at the event

Katie Dewhurst, Grassroots volunteer and Anthony Lynn, Grassroots Director wearing the new Rhino supplied Kit

Rhino has long been a supporter of Touraid - a children's charity that supports rugby tours for children & young adults from disadvantaged communities worldwide to create long lasting links for economic, social and educational development.We have, amongst other things in the past provided kit to Touraid teams in Charity matches and to visiting sides from overseas to Touraid tournaments. We have now provided Touraid’s community volunteer programme with Rhino apparel.

Touraid Community Director Anth Lynne commented ‘We are extremely grateful to Rhino Rugby and particularly Dave Reynish of Rhino Teamwear for their continued support for our activities’.

For more information on becoming a Volunteer with touraid please contact Anth Lynn at anth@touraid.org or 07540518942 and visit www.touraid.org

Khanyiso Toyi of the Umzingisi team from the Nelson Mandela Bay area of Port Elizabeth which won the 2009 Touraid tournament in Saffron Waldon in their Rhino kit

Indian national XV fly half Sailen Tudu in the Rhino sponsored Touraid charity game in 2009

England legend Mike Catt in the same game

Congratulations Zoe Penlington You have won our Wales vs. Baa-Baas Competition. A Rhino Hit Shield will be on its way to you shortly!

For the Wales vs Barbarians game at the Millennium Stadium on June 2nd Rhino instituted an innovative competition for all fans buying a match programme.

Anyone buying a match programme was invited to access a simple quiz and competition via QR code on their smart phone to win a Rhino hit shield specially signed for the occasion by Wales captain Sam Warburton.

We were delighted with the response and plan to roll the concept out on future occasions at both the Millennium Stadium and Twickenham.

Andy Irvine, Manager of the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2013, today unveiled the designs for the commemorative tour ball from Rhino Rugby at a press conference in Hong Kong.

The press conference, followed by a celebration lunch, was primarily called to mark One Year Out from the historic game, which will take place on June 1st 2013 between the Lions and the Barbarians, before the Lions squad heads down to Australia for the rest of their tour.

The ball will be available for purchase from Rhino Rugby and other sales channels at the end of June.

Reg Clark, Rhino Rugby CEO, and Tim Lambert, MD of Rhino Rugby Asia, with Andy Irvine, British & Irish Lions 2013 Tour Manager, at the launch of Rhino's new ball design in Hong Kong today exactly one year ahead of the Lions vs Barbarians game to be held there on June 1st 2013.