Australian Rugby Union agrees Asics kit deal

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has announced sports performance brand, ASICS as an Official Partner of the Qantas Wallabies and sponsor of Australian Rugby from 2014.

Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive, Bill Pulver said the partnership with ASICS is a great vote of confidence in Australian Rugby and will be a terrific opportunity to access world-leading high performance apparel and footwear.

Pulver explained "the Qantas Wallabies are an iconic national team and we're absolutely delighted to be working with ASICS to help us continue the proud traditions of our game and help our performance reach new heights.

"We're particularly pleased that our other national teams, including the Qantas Men's and Women's Sevens, will also be part of this deal."

The new deal extends ASICS' existing partnership with Australian Rugby as the Official Footwear supplier of the Qantas Wallabies and Australian Rugby teams in 2013.

Under the new partnership, all Australian Rugby teams, including the Qantas Wallabies and the Qantas Men's and Women's Sevens, will wear ASICS apparel and footwear, with the ASICS logo appearing on jerseys.

ASICS Oceania Managing Director Allan Russell, said ASICS is proud to be working with Australian Rugby, adding "Rugby is a proudly celebrated sport in Australia and ASICS is pleased to have established a major partnership with Australian Rugby Union, an organisation with a rich sporting heritage.

"This joint venture will enable ASICS to showcase our leadership in the innovation and design of sporting footwear and apparel, to enhance team performance.

"ASICS not only applauds elite success but also believes in applauding participation in sport at all levels, so we're looking forward to supporting all of ARU's programs, from the grassroots through to the Wallabies."

In addition to its partnership with Australian Rugby, ASICS has a number of Rugby ambassadors, including Qantas Wallabies, James Horwill, Israel Folau and Stephen Moore.

Australian Rugby fans will see the ASICS logo on Australian Rugby jerseys for the first time in January next year when the Qantas Men's Sevens compete in Las Vegas as part of the 2013/14 HSBC Sevens World Series.

The new range of ASICS replica Qantas Wallabies apparel will be available in retail stores from May 2014.

In other sponsorship news, the AFL has agreed an extenstion of Virgin Australia's status as the sport's official airline.

Since January 2011, Virgin Australia has been carrying all 18 AFL teams, including the standard travelling party of 60 players, staff and officials, across Australia and overseas.

A newly signed agreement will see the partnership reach new heights, the airline stated, with Virgin Australia becoming Naming Rights Partner of the AFL Grand Final Half Time entertainment, the Premiership Party and the Grand Final Week Party, as well as the innovative 'Any Game, Anywhere' platform, which provides AFL fans with tailored packages for Virgin Australia airfares, match tickets and accommodation.

Virgin Australia Chief Executive John Borghetti said the partnership had gone from strength to strength since its launch almost three years ago, stating "it is a great honour to be the official airline of Australia's most popular sport, especially during such an exciting period of growth and expansion for the game.

"Over the past three years, we have carried AFL teams on over 450 flights, provided tens of thousands of extra seats to support fans attending finals matches and launched innovative initiatives to promote the sport and reward its fans.

"The AFL players are some of the most frequent flyers in the country and it is therefore a huge vote of confidence in Virgin Australia that they were keen to extend our partnership.

"We look forward to continuing to provide the AFL with the best possible travel experience and working together to support its large 

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