Rugby Europe is delighted to announce the signature with O’Neills Irish International Sports, for a four-year term.
The historic Sportswear group becomes the “Official Apparel Supplier” of the European governing body until the summer of 2029.
During this period, O’Neills will supply the 300 referees on-field and the match officials (Match commissioners, Tournament directors, Performance reviewers, Judicial officers…) for the 600 matches organized each season in the 47 member countries.
The historical brand founded in 1918 has traditionally been known as a manufacturer for Gaelic football teams, and have been involved in rugby for a number of years, with partnerships, such as Brumbies ACT, Penrith Panthers in Australia, as well as the Warrington Wolves and Bristol Bears in the UK.
In addition to the kits for officials, O’Neills will propose their creative products to unions and will create a customized range of products for fans and rugby players with the launch of a dedicated e-shop platform.
The partnership will commence with the series of Rugby Europe 7s Tournaments, from 6th of June with the first leg of the Trophy Series and Championship Series both being held in Croatia this year. A total of 15 tournaments will feature for the first time referees equipped with O’Neills outfit.
Janhein Pieterse, President of Rugby Europe, about the partnership: "We are delighted to welcome such an established partner in O’Neills for the next four years. This historic brand is a perfect fit with Rugby Europe's DNA and values. they will bring us their high-quality clothing and their capacity to offer various products to rugby fans."
Florent Marty, CEO of Rugby Europe: “This partnership highlights a major step forward for us as an organsiation. The fact that O’Neills have chosen to join us on our journey to grow the game across Europe is a major statement on the attractivity of Rugby Europe competitions. They have been proven suppliers in Europe for some time and am sure that they will be able showcase their high-quality products throughout the continent.”
James Towell, Director of O’Neills, added: “We are very excited to partner with Rugby Europe as their Official Apparel Supplier. This collaboration is a key milestone in our international growth and allows us to expand on our already strong presence within the rugby community. We're excited to bring our tradition of quality, performance, and innovation to support referees, officials, and fans across 47 nations, and to play a role in helping the game continue to grow across the continent.”
