Renewal partnership covers all Scottish Rugby teams and development rugby across Scotland
Announcement extends the partnership beyond 50 years together
East Sussex, England, August 2024 – Gilbert and Scottish Rugby are pleased to announce the renewal of their long-standing partnership, with Gilbert as the official ball of rugby across Scotland at all levels of the game.
The renewal strengthens Gilbert’s position as the number one rugby ball in World Rugby, supplying balls to the Top 20 men’s teams and Top 10 women’s teams in the world. As part of the new agreement, Gilbert will continue to supply its world leading balls, to international teams, as well as to all development, university, high school and elite club competitions across Scotland.
Dating back to 1823 and celebrating its bicentenary last year, Gilbert has a unique heritage, with William Gilbert supplying some of the very first rugby balls to Rugby School, when William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball and ran with it. The 1993 Sevens World Cup at Murrayfield was the first competition to use the famous coloured Gilbert ellipse trims, now synonymous with the game. Today, Gilbert’s iNNOVO match ball remains the preferred choice of the world’s leading nations and Gilbert has been the official ball at the Rugby World Cup for an unprecedented eight consecutive tournaments.
Scottish Rugby’s Commercial Director, Chris Healy said: “We are delighted to be continuing our longstanding relationship with Gilbert. They are the world leading supplier of rugby balls, and this extended partnership will allow clubs across Scotland, at all levels, to continue to use their products.”
Gilbert Rugby Commercial CEO, Richard Gray added: “We have enjoyed a very long and successful partnership with Scottish Rugby for over 50 years and are delighted to extend our partnership again as we look to support the continued growth of rugby throughout Scotland.
The passion of the rugby community and rugby fans in Scotland is hard to beat and we are committed to supporting the game we love – at all levels. For players, fans and clubs we look forward to working closely with Scottish Rugby to grow the game throughout the country.”
The Official Gilbert Rugby Scotland Rugby Balls are available online and in sports retail stores now from gilbertrugby.com
- END -
About Gilbert
Gilbert Rugby is a legendary brand with 200 years of expertise in crafting the finest rugby balls. From humble beginnings in the 1820s, Gilbert Rugby has become the ball of choice for the world's greatest rugby competitions. With a reputation for innovation, precision and quality, Gilbert Rugby is the ultimate symbol of rugby excellence. Proud to be the official ball of every Rugby World Cup since 1995, Gilbert is a market leader in the production and supply of rugby goods including: rugby balls, rugby boots, rugby clothing and rugby equipment.
It is the official supplier of the most important rugby tournaments and competitions in the world, such as the Rugby Sevens event at Paris 2024 Olympic Games, World Rugby, Guinness Six Nations, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, European Professional Club Rugby, Premiership Rugby, United Rugby Championship, Super Rugby and most of the World’s leading international teams.
About Scottish Rugby
To find out more about Scottish Rugby, visitwww.scottishrugby.org
