Rhino Rugby News

Rhino was delighted to feature strongly in the ‘car rugby’ face off game between Jeremy Clarkson and James May at Twickenham as featured in the latest episode of Top Gear. Check it out on:

We can only hope that the hallowed turf has been renovated for the England vs France game this Saturday!

Rhino is pleased to inform you that there is a 2 for 1 offer for the Barbarians game against Fiji to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Fijian Rugby Union at Twickenham on November 30th. See: 2 for 1 on Barbarians Tickets

The game follows those on the Barbarians Summer Tour for which Rhino is the official supplier of teamwear and apparel to the club – against England at Twickenham on May 26th and the historic game against the British & Irish Lions on June 1st in Hong Kong, for which Rhino is also providing the match ball.

All in all quite a year for this most famous of invitation clubs which has played the Lions once before in 1977 for the Queens Silver Jubilee celebrations, a game in which current Barbarians Team Manager Derek Quinnell played.

Derek Quinnell of the Barbarians and Reg Clark of Rhino
launch the new Baa Baas shirt in Hong Kong.

Rhino has been appointed Official Ball Supplier to the 33rd Varsity Rugby League match between Oxford and Cambridge which is to be played at the Honourable Artillery Company ground in the City of London on Friday March 8th.

For the second consecutive year Rhino will provide the match balls for the game and will be conducting a half time crossbar challenge kicking competition in addition to supporting the pre match lunch.

Rhino Rugby League Managing Director Tony Colquitt commented: ‘We are delighted once more to support the Varsity Match and are particularly proud to do so as the newly appointed Official Ball Supplier to both the RFL and the Super League’.

Rhino products play a crucial part in England's match preparations and this is never more evident than during the squad’s pre-game on pitch warm up sessions before the current 6 Nations matches.

England warm up at Twickenham before the recent Calcutta Cup match.Images credit: David Gibson - Fotosport

During the cold snap in the rest of Europe the Romanian national squad took advantage of exceptionally good weather at Browns Sport & Leisure Resort in the Algarve for their winter training camp last week.

Rhino has a longstanding partnership with Browns, Europe’s leading specialist warm weather training facility for rugby. They provide our contact equipment and a top of the range Rhino Dictator scrum machine for the use of all visiting sides. England, Ireland, Australia and a host of leading professional clubs have been to Browns in recent years.

Rhino teamed up with Browns moreover at Rugby Expo last November to offer the prize of a free stay at the facility in a draw for community clubs which was won by Sussex RFU who will be sending one of their member clubs over to the Algarve for a week shortly.

Rhino Rugby League and 1eagu3, the Super League players association have today announced a partnership to look at ways of developing bespoke Rugby League Equipment.

The partnership will see Rhino and a panel of players nominated by 1eagu3 set up a series of workshops to look at ways of improving and developing bespoke Rugby League training equipment and balls.

Rhino Rugby League Managing Director Tony Colquitt commented, "Rhino has a proud tradition of bringing innovation into the Rugby union equipment marketplace. We are aware that this is an area that has been somewhat overlooked in Rugby League and we are keen to work with the players to get a fuller understanding of what is required to help fulfil their requirements. League is a technical game with bespoke skills that require bespoke solutions."

The Chairman of 1eagu3 Jon Wilkin commented: "We are very pleased to announce an partnership between RHINO and 1EAGU3. the partnership aims to ensure the equipment used in Super League is of the highest standard. RHINO have asked for 1EAGU3 members to get involved and help them develop cutting edge, bespoke equipment to be used on the training field and on a match day. RHINO have acknowledged how important feedback from the athletes can be. We are very much looking forward to working with RHINO to help them to continue to produce the best products money can buy in rugby league over the coming years."

Rhino are providing the official ball of Super League this season, following the announcement of a three-year deal in the winter.

Super League stars will be fighting out for a new award at the end of the 2013 season - the Rhino Super League Top Gun.
Following the announcement of James Roby and Ryan Hall as Brand Ambassadors, Rhino Rugby have continued their support of rugby league by launching this award, which will be won by the player with the best kicking percentage during the season.

It covers all regular Super League rounds, and is open to any players who play in at least six first team games, with updates issued weekly by Rhino Rugby and on the Super League website. The overall winner will receive his award at the Man of Steel awards dinner at the end of the season.
Rhino Rugby will also be supporting community rugby league. Each month they will donate £100 worth of match balls to the player with the best kicking percentage in that month, to be awarded to the junior club of their choice.

Tony Colquitt, Managing Director of Rhino Rugby League, said: "We are delighted to announce the Rhino Super League Top Gun Award to celebrate the new Rhino Ball contract with the RFL. I am sure it will be a fascinating competition that will highlight the skill and accuracy of the kickers within Super League."

Last season’s highest percentage goalkicker was Warrington’s Gareth O’Brien, who landed 87.75% of his 49 attempts playing for the Wolves and during a loan spell with Widnes, narrowly ahead of Danny Tickle (85.39%). Leeds captain Kevin Sinfield, who topped the overall points charts with 140 goals over the season, had a percentage success of 82.84%.
The new Super League season kicks-off with the new official Rhino Rugby match ball on Friday (February 1st) when reigning champions Leeds Rhinos take on Hull FC and Wigan Warriors travel to Salford City Reds.

The management of the British & Irish Lions 2013 tour to Australia were recently in Hong Kong to further prepare the ground for their historic game against the Barbarians on June 1st and were hosted to drinks at the British Consulate.

Staff of Rhino Rugby Asia, including Director David Walter, who is additionally a Rhino parent company shareholder, attended to represent us as a Lions Partner. Not only will we be Official Supplier of training equipment to the Lions, but as their Official Ball supplier we will provide the match ball for the game on June 1st and to round it off we were recently appointed as teamwear and apparel supplier for the Barbarians.

Later the same week it was also announced that Rhino Asia have become Official Equipment Supplier to the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and the legendary Hong Kong Sevens. Heady days.....

Lions Tour Manager Andy Irvine and Head Coach Warrent Gatland with Rhino’s David Walter at the British Consulate in Hong Kong

Rhino Rugby Asia celebrated the announcement of their partnership with the HKRFU today by presenting prizes to all sides competing in the annual Bill Williams Schools 7s. 10 boys sides and 7 girls teams contested the tournament at King's Park, Hong Kong.

Rhino Rugby Asia is now Official Supplier of training equipment to both the HKRFU and the legendary Hong Kong Sevens. Tim Lambert, Rhino Group CEO Reg Clark and HKRFU officials, clubs and schools gathered following the tournament at the Hong Kong Football Club to formally launch the partnership.

Rhino Rugby Asia MD Tim Lambert and HKRFU Head of Community and Development Brandon Huang at the tournament.

Rhino Rugby today continued our significant move into Asia by announcing our appointment as the official equipment supplier to the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens and the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU).

"Rhino is one of the leading brands in the world, known for its top class contact and training equipment that offers quality and a combination of tradition and innovation. It is important that players in Hong Kong use the best training equipment to prepare and our partnership with Rhino ensures we are able do this." said HKRFU Chairman Trevor Gregory.

Rhino will be further represented in the Asian region in June when they will also provide the match shirt for the Barbarians as they take on the British & Irish Lions on 1 June at Hong Kong Stadium in addition to supplying the match ball for the game.

Reg Clark, Group CEO of Rhino said, "Rhino is proud to be a supplier to Hong Kong Rugby and the Cathay Pacific/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens and looks forward to a successful and enthusiastic partnership. Asia is an increasingly important market to as we build over time to the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019 and Hong Kong, and in particular its legendary showpiece event the Sevens, is an important part of this. We are absolutely delighted to be in partnership with the HKRFU going ahead".

Rhino Rugby Asia's MD Tim Lambert together with Reg is hosting a reception at the Hong Kong Football Club on Friday evening to celebrate the announcement of the deal.