All Blacks Rumoured to Add New Shirt Sponsor Breaking Tradition

According to reports New Zealand could break a 100 year-old tradition by allowing a sponsor’s logo to be emblazoned on the All Blacks jersey. 

The New Zealand Herald reported, an American insurance company is negotiating with the New Zealand Rugby Union to place their logo on the front of the famous playing strip. 

The All Blacks have been playing without a large front-of-jersey sponsor since they started playing international matches in the 1880s. 

The NZRU initially refused to comment on the issue but after Jed Thian of the Alternative Rugby Commentary website revealed an impending sponsorship deal with American International Group (AIG) on Radio New Zealand, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew released a statement regarding potential sponsorships. 

“As is normal for our organisation, we are discussing opportunities with a number of potential sponsors across a range of categories,” he said. 

“Like any commercial organisation we are not able to discuss any of those details until both parties have reached agreement. 

“But let’s be clear adidas is our principal partner and that contract extends to 2019 and underpins rugby in this country,” added Tew. 

It is rumoured that AIG have secured a five-year deal which includes having their logo on the All Blacks’ shorts and shirt sleeves. 

But a NZRU spokesman refused to comment when asked about a potential jersey deal with AIG. 

If the NZRU do decide to take up AIG’s offer it would be a controversial but not just because it would break with the All Blacks’ tradition of not having a sponsor on their jersey. 

AIG used to sponsor Premier League football club Manchester United and their logo was emblazoned on the team’s jersies from 2006 to 2010. 

However, the company struggled during the global financial crisis and were bailed out on four occasions by the United States government. 

During the 1990s, the All Blacks had a shirt sponsor from Steinlager, who had their name emblazoned on the right side of the jersey. 

And currently, Adidas have a small logo on the shirt’s right breast, opposite the silver fern on the left.