ASICS EXTEND CONTRACTS OF THE WALLABIES THROUGH TO 2025 AND SPRINGBOKS THROUGH TILL 2024

[25th October - Kobe, Japan] ASICS, true sport performance brand, has renewed the contracts of both Rugby Australia (RA) and The South African Rugby Union (SARU:SA Rugby) teams. The contracts will come into effect as of 2020, with the Wallabies’ six-year deal continued until 2025 and the Springboks through until 2024.

The respective deals are extensions of the deals signed back in 2014, where ASICS became the official apparel and footwear supplier of Rugby Australia and SA Rugby.

The contract extensions mean both sides will wear ASICS at upcoming international tournaments in Japan 2019 and France 2023.

Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle said: “Through this partnership extension ASICS has given a strong vote of confidence in Australian Rugby by committing for the long haul as we look forward to a number of exciting major tournaments and tours over the coming years across all of our national teams. Our athletes are proud to wear the ASICS brand and we are delighted that we can continue to work with ASICS to carry on the traditions of our game and elevate the performance of our national teams at the next two Rugby international tournaments in Japan in 2019 and France in 2023, the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020 and the Women’s Rugby international tournaments in 2021 and 2025.”

SA Rugby CEO, Jurie Roux said: “This is obviously an extremely important period for our game, so we are very happy to go into it with the backing of ASICS once again. The goal of the South African rugby team is to get back to the summit of world rugby and together with ASICS’ help on and off the field, we believe we will get back there.”

With Japan – the home of ASICS – hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2019, 2018 represents a pivotal year for both sides as they look to prepare for the biggest prize in International Rugby.

Under the new partnerships, all Australian Rugby teams, including the Wallabies and the Men’s and Women’s Sevens, will wear ASICS apparel and footwear, with the ASICS logo appearing on jerseys. The new range of ASICS replica Wallabies and Springboks apparel will be available online and at ASICS retail stores from May, 2019.

In addition to its partnerships with Rugby Australia and SA Rugby, ASICS has a number of rugby ambassadors in these regions including Wallabies player, Israel Folau and Prop for South Africa’s Springboks, Tendai ‘Beast' Mtawarira.

“I’m really happy that Rugby Australia and ASICS are continuing their partnership. ASICS has been a huge supporter of Rugby in Australia, not only the Wallabies, but also the Wallaroos, Under 20s and Mens and Womens 7s teams. The technology in the product is second to none and it’s exciting for Rugby Australia to be working with such an innovative company” said Folau.

"I'm super excited that The South African Rugby Union have renewed their partnership with ASICS, it’s great to have the continuity and to ensure that the Springboks, the Blitzboks, the Women's teams and our amateur teams are provided the best possible performance product so we can ensure we focus on the field of play" said Mtawarira.

Mark Brunton, Managing Director of ASICS Oceania:

“We are delighted to be extending our agreement with Rugby Australia for a further six years. Rugby has rich history in Australia and we are very proud to be part of that. Our partnership will allow ASICS to continue to work with Rugby across all levels, from the Schoolboy pathways, our world class Sevens teams and the Wallaroos, through to the pinnacle of rugby in Australia, the QANTAS Wallabies. We are excited by the opportunity to showcase our innovative designs in performance apparel and sporting footwear at the highest level through Rugby on the local and global stage.”

Alistair Cameron, CEO of ASICS EMEA, added:

“We are very proud and excited to continue our partnership with SA Rugby. With South Africa being a key emerging market and rugby being one of the most popular sports in the world, the partnership with SA Rugby is a chance for us to further expand brand awareness and exposure within the South African market. The deal is also a further indication of our commitment to supporting the Springboks in their continual development before the Rugby International tournaments, as well as a chance for us to showcase our apparel, with rugby being one of our core sports.”

To find out more about the athletes and teams, visit asics.com/rugby or asics.com, join the conversation on social @ASICSRugby or 

check out the video : https://youtu.be/huFwL2c3aNg

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