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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.

Swazi athletics coach Muzi Mabuza, with Rodney Glanville and Olympic sprinters Sibusiso Matsenjwa and Phumlile Ndzinisa in their Rhino kit.

With the world of rugby having to wait until Rio in 2016 for rugby's re-entry to the Olympics, Rhino has relatively little direct connection with the current Games in London.

One slightly unusual one, however, is the fact that because of Rhino's strong support for the Swazi based rugby charity Skrum, run by the President of the Swaziland RFU Michael Collinson, the two Swazi athletes, sprinters Sibusiso Matsenjwa and Phumlile Ndzinisa, competing next week in the Olympic Stadium have been wearing Rhino/Skrum kit all season.

Together with their coach Muzi Mabuza they have been preparing for the event in Rhino's former base in Tavistock in Devon, hosted by Skrum trustee Rodney Glanville. We wish them all the very best next week.

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.

Shane Williams scored a dramatic last minute try, his second of the game, and Dan Biggar a magnificent touchline conversion to seal the RaboDirect
PRO12 31-30 for the Ospreys over Leinster at the RDS Dublin on Sunday.

It was a fitting send off for Shane in the final game of an illustrious career, and a record fourth PRO12 title for the Ospreys.
The goalkickers continued their tremendous form with the Rhino Vortex Elite ball with Rhino Golden Boot Award Winner Johnny Sexton and Biggar both kicking 6 from 7 attempts.

Rhino are delighted with their first season as ball and apparel sponsor to the RaboDirect PRO12 and we look forward to the coming three seasons.

Shane Williams crosses for the first of his two tries.

Rhino Rugby and the RAF have co-operated to donate a Premiersled scrum machine and other miscellaneous equipment and apparel to the Khelo Rugby charity in Calcutta. The machine was on display on Saturday 26th May at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Sevens organised by the RAF at Iffley Road, Oxford.

There was a collection at the tournament towards the donation of the equipment and an auction this week at an RAF dinner, items including a signed England shirt donated by Rhino, will also contribute to this. Rhino also held a collection day in Somerset some weeks ago when displaying the 6 Nations Trophy on loan from the WRU – anyone having their photo taken with the trophy being invited to make a donation of kit to be sent out to Calcutta with the Premiersled.

The RAF Spitfires 7s team are regular visitors to the Calcutta Sevens in June, and have developed a strong relationship with Khelo Rugby, which encourages disadvantaged children to use rugby’s disciplines and camaraderie to help change their lives. Khelo is supported in turn by UK Charity Rugby Uncle, who also entered a side into the tournament consisting largely of players from Leeds and Hartpury Universities, including current Indian national fly half, Sailen Tudu, who is currently studying at Hartpury and is Khelo Rugby’s most notable success story to date.

Co-incidentally, 'The Rhinos' 7s team from the Kew Occasionals, which we sponsor, played Rugby Uncle in their opening game in Oxford before which captain Dave O’Brien presented the equipment to Sailen Tudu. The Rhinos went down in that game and to BUSA champions UWIC in their group, but went on to defeat Afghanistan in the Bowl semi final before acquitting themselves extremely well in losing 28-20 to Cambridge University in the final. Dave O’Brien inspired a great performance against his old university and with four tries apiece the game came down to The Rhinos’ inability to kick the conversions!

In the main Cup competition final Wales defeated the Henley Hawks 36-10, and in the Plate final the RAF Spitfires defeated UWIC 41-4.

The Kew Occasional Rhinos team.
	Dave O'Brien presents Sailen Tudu with the Rhino equipment.
	F/O Steve Mills and Flt/Lt Tim Barlow of the RAF Spitfires with the Rhino Premiersled bound for Calcutta.

The RaboDirect PRO12 Awards took place at the Cardiff Hilton on Sunday May 6th at the conclusion of the regular season and ahead of the Play Offs and the Final of the competition.

The prestigious Rhino Golden Boot Award for the competition’s leading goalkicker went to Jonathan Sexton of Leinster who achieved a remarkable 90% success rate and received the trophy from Rhino Managing Director Anthony Locke.

The Rhino Collision Kings Award was presented to Glasgow Warriors coach Sean Lineen by Rhino Collision King inventor Richie Gray, who together with his judging panel Phil Keith-Roach, Jim Telfer and Lynn Evans had selected the Warriors as the side showing most efficiency and technique at the breakdown throughout the season.

The Rhino party enjoyed the glittering occasion with players and coaches of the PRO12 sides, tournament officials and fellow sponsors RaboDirect and Specsavers.

Anthony Locke presents Jonathan Sexton of Leinster with the Rhino Golden Boot Award	Richie Gray presents Glasgow Warriors’ coach Sean Lineen with the Rhino Collision Kings Award.