British & Irish Lions Sponsor Rhino Appoints Andrew Moss as Non-Executive Chairman

British & Irish Lions sponsor Rhino, ask the world’s leading supplier of scrummaging machines, medic contact and training equipment for rugby, allergist has announced the appointment of Andrew Moss as Non-Executive Chairman, with immediate effect. 

Mr Moss, who also takes a stake in the business, will play a key role helping Rhino as it enters an exciting new phase of its growth.

Mr Moss joins a group of shareholders at Rhino that already includes Martin Johnson, the former England and British Lions captain and England Manager, who is a former Executive Director of the firm and remains a significant shareholder having led a management buy-in of the business with current CEO Reg Clark in 2006.

“Rugby has always been a great passion of mine,” said Mr Moss. “So I was delighted when Reg, a friend of mine since our university days, asked me to get involved with Rhino. Rhino is already a great brand with huge growth potential. I’m looking forward to working with Rhino particularly in a year in which it is an Official Supplier and Sponsor to the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.” 

Mr Moss is the former chief executive and finance director at Aviva, the FTSE 100 insurance company that sponsors English Premiership rugby. Prior to leading Aviva, Mr Moss served as chief financial officer at Lloyds of London and HSBC’s investment banking and treasury division. He holds a degree in law from Oxford University, where alongside Clark he played rugby for the Blues XV.

Commenting on the appointment of Andrew Moss as Chairman, Rhino Rugby’s Chief executive, Reg Clark, said: “Andrew brings a wealth of experience to Rhino, we look forward to him giving us invaluable insight, which we believe will help the company kick on to the next level in 2013.”

Rhino, founded in the early 1980’s, has established itself as one of the foremost players in the rugby equipment market. The firm is currently Official Supplier of contact and training equipment to the British & Irish Lions, England Rugby, the Welsh Rugby Union, Bath, London Wasps, Cardiff Blues and St Helens Rugby League Club. 

In addition Rhino now supplies the match balls to the RaboDirect PRO12 in addition to being Official Ball Supplier to the British & Irish Lions in both South Africa in 2009 and for the coming tour to Australia. 

The company has in recent years further leveraged the brand into teamwear & training apparel, fashionwear & leisurewear and artificial turf, in addition to establishing licensed operations in Southern Illinois covering the USA and Canada and in Singapore covering Asia.