Rhino, the world’s leading supplier of contact and training equipment for rugby, announced today that it has been appointed as an Official Supplier to The British & Irish Lions 2013 Australia Tour.

As for the Lions 2009 Tour to South Africa, Rhino has moreover a dual role – the Somerset based company is to supply not only the training equipment the squad will use at each training venue in the UK & Ireland, Hong Kong and Australia, but also the Official Training Ball and commemorative ball collection for the Tour.

Rhino CEO Reg Clark expressed delight at the re-appointment: ‘we are thrilled to once more be a part of The Lions family for this Tour and are pleased to note the continuity in terms of personnel and other Tour sponsors. We are looking forward very much to working with them all again. Heritage is a major part of Rhino’s brand and it is hard to find a rugby entity more imbued with this than The Lions.’

Tour Manager Andy Irvine, himself a legendary British & Irish Lions player from the 1974, 1977 and 1980 Tours commented: ‘The British & Irish Lions are delighted to welcome Rhino Rugby back as an Official Supplier for the 2013 Tour. The quality of their equipment is well known and was much appreciated by the 2009 Tour management and players. Rhino is well known for being a cutting edge developer of innovative new products and is additionally now an established performance ball manufacturer. ’

Today’s appointments were announced in the Attlee Room of the House of Lords at a reception hosted by Liberal Democrat peer Lord Dholakia.