RFU & Tri Distribution In New Four-Year Apparel Deal

April 20, 2012

A four year-deal has been agreed between The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Tri Distribution, which will see a new range of England Rugby branded apparel become available for the public.

Tri Distribution is a specialist in the management of integrated official merchandising for sports teams. Current rugby clients include producing apparel under license for the Welsh Rugby Union and SARU, the South African governing body. The deal with the RFU will run alongside the new official England Rugby kit deal with Canterbury.

With the build up to the Rugby World Cup in 2015, the new range will include outerwear for men, women and children where it is expected to make a clean sweep of high-street sales due to popular demand.

Sophie Goldschmidt, the RFU’s chief commercial officer, said: ‘This new partnership builds on England Rugby’s strong existing presence in the apparel sector and we are very pleased to be partnering with a market leader such as Tri Distribution.’

Simon Skene, director, Tri Distribution added: ‘As one of the biggest sporting brands in the world, we are thrilled to be adding England Rugby to our extensive portfolio which already includes Wales and The Springboks. The team’s huge fanbase means that demand for England apparel is always high and we are confident of a strong performance at retail.’

The deal was brokered by CPLG Sport, licensing agent for the RFU.

Tim Juckes, sales and retail director, CPLG said: ‘This new agreement adds to a programme that is growing faster than ever, with the licensing community increasingly aware of the huge commercial potential that exists for the England Rugby brand leading up to Rugby World Cup 2015.’