On the heels of the BYU Rugby program’s second national title in four years the Cougars announced rugby’s premium outfitter, Adidas, has signed a new long term apparel sponsorship contract with the team.

Adidas representative Adrian Brooks said the strategic relationship with BYU will give the company access to the growing American rugby market, something the company hasn’t done concertedly over its long history.

“Adidas Rugby has embarked on a path to align itself with the best rugby teams and players in the world,” Brooks remarked, “Today we are very proud to announce a long term partnership with the Brigham Young University Rugby team. The team will be outfitted in the best boots, apparel and rugby accessories in the business and will enjoy a close working relationship with Adidas Rugby U.S.”

Although official details of the sponsorship will not be released, Brooks said the relationship of Adidas with BYU will offer both parties something that hasn’t been afforded other programs in America.

Brooks said, “We will try to use the BYU coaching staff and players in all of our new product rollouts and innovations and use their valuable insight to propel Adidas Rugby to the next level.”

The partnership with Adidas and BYU also includes an innovative third partner in the form of World Rugby Shop, which will work to manage the retail and online logistics of the BYU-Adidas partnership.

“World Rugby Shop is proud to be working with BYU as their official supplier along with Adidas,” World Rugby Shop Partnership Director Brad Kilpatrick said,”As a company, we have always strived for quality and excellence in all aspects of our business and to partner with those that have the same high standards. We have found such a partner in BYU and we are committed to helping them drive standards on the playing field while we drive standards in the rugby supply business.”

By working with the world’s top rugby gear provider in Adidas and by leveraging the leading American rugby retail expertise of World Rugby Shop BYU will now be able to utilize elite on-the-field gear while giving the burgeoning BYU Rugby fan base access to the world’s finest replica and supporter apparel.

The opportunities that these relationships with two of world’s largest rugby suppliers offers his program doesn’t fall lightly on the mind of BYU head coach David Smyth.

“We’re very excited about this new sponsorship with Adidas and World Rugby Shop and the opportunities it offers us to expand our brand,” Smyth said, “Not only does this relationship offer our program greater financial success in the years to come, but it will be give our players, our staff and of course our many fans greater access to the world’s most exclusive rugby apparel.”

For the 2012-13 season BYU players and staff will don Adidas gear exclusively while fans will be offered access to a syndicated BYU Rugby line of apparel and replica gear via World Rugby Shop and on BYURugby.com.

Details regarding the roll out of the syndicated BYU Rugby Adidas gear on World Rugby Shop and BYURugby.com are forthcoming.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ADIDAS

Adidas is one of Rugby’s most prestigious brands having sponsored the world renowned All Blacks since 1999. Adidas works to ensure the highest quality standards of its rugby collection through the most technologically advanced boots, equipment, and apparel.

Not only do Adidas rugby products meet IRB standards, but they are also worn by the Argentina Pumas, Munster, and the world’s top professional rugby players. For the best in the game, shop Adidas rugby. 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORLD RUGBY SHOP

WorldRugbyShop.com is wholly committed to providing a superior level of service to our customers, and that dedication stems from a passion for the game that traces deeply back to the roots of the company.

Opening just in time for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, WorldRugbyShop.com was launched with only five products. But now, several years down the road, WorldRugbyShop.com has grown to be recognized as the leading retailer of Rugby gear and officially licensed merchandise for professional and amateur players, fans, and families around the world.

The company also has provided several high profile partners with rugby including the 2007 Rugby World Cup, USA Rugby, South Africa Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union. 

ABOUT BYU RUGBY

The BYU Rugby program has long been a nationally recognized rugby program, but only recently lifted itself to the echelon of National Champions twice in the last four years (2009 & 2012).

By being the winningest sports program on the BYU campus with just 24 losses in the last 20 years the Cougars have promoted over 40 All Americans since 2001 and 12 USA Men’s National Team Members during the same time frame.

BYU also boasts access to a national and international audience via the country’s first live collegiate rugby broadcast (BYU vs. Utah State, March 10, 2009) via the program’s own BYUtv, which delivers HD quality broadcast into over 60 millions homes nationally and many more internationally. The Cougars have appeared on national TV more than any other American collegiate rugby program with 9 appearances in the last 4 years.