Australian Rugby Union and match ball partner Gilbert today unveiled a new-look ball to be used during the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia.

The Virtuo ball, which has been used for the past two seasons in Australia, has been designed specifically by Gilbert and features the colours of the Qantas Wallabies and Lions.

ARU CEO, Bill Pulver, said the unveiling of the official Gilbert match ball was another exciting step in the countdown to the highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour.

“Australians have been waiting 12 years for the Lions to return to our shores and anticipation surrounding this tour is building every day,” Mr Pulver said.

“Unveiling a new match ball to be used for all nine of the Lion’s matches on Australian soil is another exciting milestone in the countdown to the Lions arriving.

“The inclusion of the Qantas Wallabies’ Gold and the Lions’ Red on the ball will add to the spectacle and magnitude that is a British & Irish Lions Tour.”

Gilbert’s Sales and Marketing Director, Richard Gray said it was an honour for Gilbert to have been appointed by ARU to provide the Official Match Ball of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia.

“We were very happy to work with ARU to create a unique new design that we hope will become synonymous with some great matches this June and July”, Mr Gray said.

Gilbert Australia Brand Manager, Jon Clarke said the new ball is a powerful addition to Gilbert’s established range of high performance balls used around the globe at the elite level.

“With the extensive media coverage the Tour will generate, we are confident that the new design will also be a hit with fans from both teams,” Mr Clarke said.

“Gilbert Replica and Supporter balls celebrating the Qantas Wallabies season will be widely available in leading stockists throughout Australia.”