SA Rugby chooses Rhino as official match ball supplier
SA Rugby has unveiled Rhino as its new match ball partner on Wednesday, with the world’s No 1 rugby training equipment supplier coming on board after signing a seven-year partnership to provide match balls at international level for the Springbok men and women’s teams, as well as for all domestic competitions.
The deal will see Rhino’s elite-level match balls used for all home Tests for the Springboks, as well as all SA Rugby-run competitions, including the Carling Currie Cup, the oldest provincial series in the world.
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Rhino are one of the biggest names in rugby, having supported the British & Irish Lions for the past four tours with contact and training equipment, three of which also saw them provide training balls.
RHINO HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE NEW BALL PARTNER OF SA RUGBY
“Choosing a match ball partner is a major decision for every rugby union, but Rhino’s product, coupled with their extensive history in elite-level rugby made them an exciting new partner for South African rugby,” said Rian Oberholzer, CEO of SA Rugby.
“As rugby is in the very DNA of Rhino, we’re looking forward to seeing Rhino match balls in action, not only at Test level with our Springbok men and women’s teams, but also in all of our local competitions.
“We’re really excited about what the next seven years are going to bring through this new partnership.”
In recent years, Rhino has established itself as one of the leading match ball brands, as the official match ball of Asia Rugby and Rugby Europe, accounting for over 80 rugby playing nations. Rhino balls have also been used at the highest level in club rugby across the world, previously being official match ball for the Pro12 (now Vodacom URC), Major League Rugby in the USA, and Superliga Americana de Rugby in South America.