Author: Karl

02/06/202301/06/2023

Kukri Sports are proud to announce our new partnership with Special Olympics GB, ahead of this summer’s Special Olympics World Games.

As the new Official Kit Partner of Team Special Olympics GB for the next two years, Kukri will ensure that all 82 athletes (and unified partners), 35 coaches and eight support staff are supplied with its range of sportswear for the Special Olympics World Games.

As the new Official Kit Partner of Team Special Olympics GB for the next two years, Kukri Sports will ensure that all 82 athletes (and unified partners), 35 coaches and eight support staff are supplied with its range of sportswear for the Special Olympics World Games.

As the biggest inclusive sporting event of 2023, Berlin 2023 opens at the Olympiastadion Berlin on 17 June and will see more than 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in 26 sports over nine days of competition.

Colin Dyer, Chief Executive of Special Olympics GB, said: “Team Special Olympics GB athletes are participating in 17 sports at Berlin 2023, so it’s great to know that they will be kitted out to perform in the best possible way.

Kukri Sports is one of the world’s most respected performance sportswear brands and it works with multiple teams and athletes at elite and grassroots level. We’re very excited to secure this new partnership and to work with the Kukri team on at least three major events in the Special Olympics GB major events calendar.”

Kukri Sports, which has released three items for Team Special Olympics GB supporters in its online store, will also supply for the 2024 National Winter Games and the 2025 World Winter Games through the partnership.

Josh Beal, Sales Director at Kukri Sports, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been chosen as the sportswear partner of Team Special Olympics GB at the Berlin 2023 Special Olympics World Games.

It’s an honour to see our products worn by such talented athletes on a world stage. We believe that our high-performance sportswear will help the team achieve their best results and are delighted to be part of the event. We will be cheering the team on every step of the way.”

Team Special Olympics GB athletes participating at Berlin 2023 are part of the 6,500 athletes who regularly engage in sporting opportunities across England, Scotland and Wales.

Across the United Kingdom, Special Olympics GB is the largest provider of year-round sports training and competition for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities. Its registered athletes participate at one of the 95 accredited programmes, which are delivered by a devoted team of around 3,500 volunteers.

About Special Olympics GB

• Special Olympics Great Britain (GB), set up in 1978, is a non-profit charity which provides year-round sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

• Special Olympics GB currently has 95 accredited programmes in England, Scotland and Wales and provides coaching and competition opportunities in 27 sports. These programmes are run by over 3,500 volunteers who support more than 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities to take part.

• Special Olympics GB is more than just an opportunity to take part in sport – it transforms lives.  It provides opportunities to increase confidence, realise potential, develop physical fitness and mental well-being, demonstrate courage and experience new friendships.  And above all for both athletes and their families – to have some FUN.

• The work of Special Olympics GB is currently funded by individuals, trust and corporate donations and financial support is crucial to enable us to continue our work.

• Over a quarter of British adults (27%) have had heard of Special Olympics GB and 98% think that it is an inspirational organisation. (Two Circles, National Representative Omnibus Survey for Special Olympics GB) 

About Special Olympics

• Special Olympics is a global, IOC (International Olympic Committee) recognised organization.

• Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics now reaches more than five million athletes in over 190 countries.

• Unlike the Olympics and Paralympics which focuses on elite sport with events every four years, Special Olympics aims to offer opportunities for athletes of ALL abilities to take part in a range of sport every day of the week, every week of the year.

• About Intellectual Disability

• An intellectual disability (ID) is: ‘A significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence) with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning) which started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development’ Source: Department of Health (2001) Valuing People.

• There are an estimated 1.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in Great Britain (Source: Papworth Trust 2010).

• Two hundred babies are born each week with intellectual disabilities in the UK (Source: Papworth Trust 2010).

• Eight out of ten children with intellectual disabilities are bullied and ALL are socially excluded. (Source: Mencap 2007).

• Changing social activities and a changing environment mean that younger generations* have more of a connection to or are aware of people with ID (*under 45 years old). (Two Circles, National Representative Omnibus Survey for Special Olympics GB)

02/05/202302/05/2023

Over the last month, Kukri have been shining a light on the accomplishments of strong, powerful women on the tracks, fields, courts, pitches and gyms across the world. Plus, we have also highlighted how we continue to support these inspirational women to help them achieve their goals.

The campaign was launched with the goal of highlighting the continued development of womens sportswear and how we strive to provide women athletes with the necessary support to help them excel in their chosen sport.

Over the past month, we have interviewed some of our partners’ female athletes and experienced coaches, whilst sharing their experiences with women’s sportswear and provide an insight into how Kukri is helping to drive womens sports forwards.

This included speaking to former senior England Netball captain and now Loughborough Lightning’s Assistant Head Coach, Olivia Murphy, who praised Kukri’s involvement in helping their Netball kit cater for players of all shapes and sizes.

To read more on Olivia Murphy’s thoughts, click here.

We also heard from Northern Diamonds star Phoebe Turner, who spoke of her delight on how far sportswear has developed in Women’s cricket. The 19-year-old insists that comfortable sportswear helps women cricketers feel ‘confident’ on the pitch, and also spoke of pride when noticing Northern Diamonds fans wearing the kit in the stands.

Click here to read our full interview with Phoebe.

Severn Stars Goal Attack, Grace Namana, then joined us to stress the importance of women having the right sportswear when competing and how women should always be afforded the right access to tailored sportswear, regardless of the sport they are competing in.

To read more on our interview with Grace, click here.

“Through our latest campaign, we aimed to not only show how we support women, but also promote gender equality in sports. We are proud to have made a positive impact and will continue to champion gender equality through our products and initiatives.” – Josh Beal, Sales, Director, Kukri Sports.

The importance of offering appropriate sportswear for women in sports cannot be overstated. Kukri remains committed to collaborating with our elite partners to ensure women athletes at all levels can maximize their training and performance and achieve their full potential in their respective sports.

Keep an eye out for exclusive interviews with our elite partner’s athletes and much more coming soon.

28/04/202302/05/2023

With a mission to empower female athletes and inspire the next generation of women in sport as part of our latest campaign, we recently sat down with Severn Stars’ Grace Namana in an exclusive interview.

Namana, who joined from ANZ Premiership side the Northern Mystics, is currently in her first season with Severn Stars and was one of many new faces that joined as part of a revamped squad ahead of the current season that reflects a new era under Head Coach Jo Trip.

With Stars now hoping to pick up their seventh win of the season ahead of their match against Celtic Dragons this weekend, Namana emphasised the importance of properly fitting and comfortable sportswear.

“In order to train effectively, sportswear plays an important role. We need to be supported in order to maximise training to be able to perform.

“We train hard and sacrifice a lot to be able to compete at such a high level and, regardless of what sport women are competing in, we should be afforded the right access to correct sportswear when competing.“

The 27-year-old also stressed the need for support for women in sports, particularly when it comes to their training wear.

“We need to be supported in order to maximise training to be able to perform on the court.

“Sportswear should fit properly and be able to move with your body. It should be something that you put on and don’t need to alter during a training session.”

Namana, who is also a full-time lawyer, also praised Kukri’s involvement in the development of Severn Stars’ Netball dresses.

“The dresses we have are great. We have had a very productive conversation with Kukri, who have been open to our suggestions to make the kit a better fit for us.”

Severn Stars, who have been partnered with Kukri since October 2020, currently sit 5th in the Vitality Netball SuperLeague with six wins from 13 games, with Namana undoubtedly playing a big part in Goal Attack with 156 goals from 198 total shots.

To find out more information about Severn Stars, click here.

Kukri Sports is committed to providing women with high-quality sportswear to support their training and performance. Our goal is to empower women to achieve their potential in their chosen sport and break down barriers in the world of sports.

25/04/202302/05/2023

As Kukri Sports continue to shine a light on the accomplishments of Women in Sport this month, we recently sat down with Northern Diamonds star Phoebe Turner in an exclusive interview.

Turner, who has been described as a dynamic batter, earned a professional contract ahead of the 2023 season. The 19-year-old featured eight times for Northern Diamonds’ senior side in 2022, including playing at Lord’s in their triumphant Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy Final.

With the Diamonds now hoping to kick on after beginning their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy title defence with an emphatic victory, Turner was pleased to see how far sportswear has come in Women’s Cricket and praised Kukri’s involvement.

“It shows the values that are now in place in Cricket and the bigger focus that there now is on equality. I think it’s great that Kukri have tailored sportswear for men over at Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and are now doing the same for Northern Diamonds players too.

“The fitting and feel of the kit is absolutely perfect on us. I go out there during a match and feel proud and honoured to wear it, because I know the value and thought that has gone into sportswear designed specifically for Women’s cricket by Kukri.“

Turner, who is also a graduate student from the Headingley based Yorkshire Cricket College, also shared her thoughts on the importance of sportswear designed for women, and the impact it can have on their performance on the pitch.

“It’s important for us players that we feel comfortable and confident when we are playing and on the pitch, rather than wearing sportswear that doesn’t fit us.

It’s vital that we do get the right clothing in terms of size and breathability of the material, because it helps us perform to our maximum. If we were to wear men’s bottoms on the pitch, it would be difficult for us to even run in them, so it’s pleasing to see how far it has come over recent years and it’s very beneficial to us as players to add comfort and help us perform to our best on the pitch.“

Turner, who is now embarking on her second season with the Northern Diamonds first team, is now excited to see what the future holds for Women’s sportswear in Cricket.

“I think it’s really important that you see girls wearing their own cricket kit. You can spot our fans watching our games with kit on and you can tell they want to and feel proud wearing it.

“There have been lots of positive changes this year with our kit and Kukri have played a massive part in that which has been really great to see, and long may it continue.“

Kukri have been a proud official kit supplier of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Northern Diamonds since March 2022, supplying both teams playing and training wear, as well as kit for the Academy and Pathway teams.

To find out more about Northern Diamonds, click here.

14/04/2023

As we continue to shine a light on the accomplishments of Women in sport this month, we recently sat down with ex-England Netball captain and Loughborough Lightning’s Olivia Murphy.

Now Assistant Coach and Head of Performance Support at Loughborough Lighting, Olivia Murphy enjoyed a stellar playing career with 95 caps across 15 years playing internationally for England and six years spent as senior captain.

As part of the wider elite sport franchises based at Loughborough University, Kukri continues to provide support for five time Grand finalists, Loughborough Lightning Netball, who were crowned Netball Super League champions in 2021 and continue to inspire and develop talent through their pathway.

“It’s a special partnership. Kukri have been working with Lightning Netball over multiple seasons now. The beauty of the kit is that the Kukri team are always listening to feedback or ideas from our athletes and staff. We both want to be at the top of our game!”

Murphy has also stressed the importance on the Kukri kit being accommodating for Netball players of all shapes and sizes to help facilitate their performance on the court.

“Kukri have worked with us around fit and feel of the dresses and sizing in particular. The great thing about Netball is that it’s played by females of all shapes and sizes, and Kukri have fully embraced this challenge so all the athletes can feel amazing in their kit.

“Kukri kit is long enough for our taller athletes, so they don’t have to worry about how it looks when they move and the fabric ensures that it’s breathable. Playing in packed arenas and on Sky Sports means look, feel and performance kit are hugely important.

“I would recommend Kukri to anyone working with female athletes as the staff will listen and react, as well as research what’s important for their partners.”

Kukri Sports have been a proud partner and Official Kit supplier of Loughborough University for over ten years, providing brand-new match apparel, training and leisurewear across the whole of Loughborough’s sporting provision.

To find out more about Loughborough Lightning, click here.

As part of supporting Women in sport campaign, we are giving you 20% off all Women’s sportswear for this month only. Don’t miss out, click here to find out more and grab yourself a bargain.

05/04/202314/04/2023

This month we are proud to launch our Women in Sport campaign to shine a light on the accomplishments of strong, powerful women on the track, in the fields and on the courts, pitches and gyms across the globe. Plus, we will be highlighting the support we offer to these inspirational women to help them achieve their goals.

Through collaborations with our partners, we will be highlighting the hard work and dedication of these inspiring women and the progress they continue to make across a variety of sports. We will be sharing their inspirational stories to motivate and encourage a new generation of female athletes who can now truly believe that anything is possible.

Activities will include interviews with key partners, including a live Instagram takeover with Northern Diamonds star, and leading wicket taker in Women’s County Championship Cricket, Katie Levick plus we are offering a 20% discount off all our Women’s Training & Leisurewear products throughout April.

At Kukri Sports, we are dedicated to breaking down gender barriers in the sporting world and providing contemporary and stylish designs which empower women to feel proud to engage in sporting activities at every level.

We are also committed to ensuring all women have access to sportswear that suits their individual needs, whatever the sport, whilst providing them with the opportunity to participate in sports safely and comfortably.

We offer a wide range of sizes and designs in our Women’s sportswear to promote inclusivity, comfort, and performance for a diverse customer base.

We work with many elite female athletes in their respective sports, including those at England Athletics, British Gymnastics and Severn Stars. We are also championing next generation talent by supporting England Athletics’ Youth Talent Programme with our Kukri Ambassadors scheme, which includes athletes such as Amy Thompson, Annabel Amadin, Grace Wall and Jess Bailey.

“At Kukri we understand how important it is that women feel comfortable in what they are wearing when taking part in sporting activities. This is a key focus for the business when we are developing new products, and at the forefront of our minds when we are developing new products.

“The features we incorporate into our designs ensure women are provided with the right comfort and support, whether it is the optimum fit or bespoke material properties, to perform at all levels of sport.” – Sarah Clark, Senior Product Developer at Kukri Sports.

“Our close relationships with our partner’s make it particularly enjoyable to design and develop sportswear specifically for women as we understand just how important it is to the athletes.

It fills everyone within the business with great pride when we see our designs showcased in high profile global sporting competitions, such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games or the Netball Super League.” – Hayley Yates, Design Manager at Kukri Sports.

Kukri Sports is proud to be at the forefront of designing bespoke sportswear for women, whilst promoting inclusivity in the industry.

For more information on our 20% discount off all Women’s Training & Leisurewear products, please click here.

27/03/202314/04/2023

Kukri Sports has announced their most sustainable Hong Kong Sevens merchandise range to date, as the world’s premier rugby event, the Hong Kong Sevens returns on 31 March.

Kukri Sports who provide all the Official Merchandise for the event have produced three of the new replica shirts purely from recycled polyester, with all packaging and carrier bags across the full merchandise range also produced from recycled materials.

The fashion forward range of leisure wear and accessories includes T-shirts, hoodies, and polo shirts, as well as a full range of replica home and away shirts for men, women, and kids, enabling everyone to take home a piece of history from the 2023 event and build towards a more sustainable future.

Kukri Sports will operate a name and number printing booth for the first time in the Hong Kong Stadium, where fans can get their products personalised. As well as supplying the official Hong Kong Sevens merchandise range, Kukri Sports are also official suppliers to the Hong Kong Rugby Union teams across men’s, women, and national age grade teams.

The Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens is one of the most popular sporting events in Asia and attracts some of the world’s top rugby players and thousands of fans from around the globe.

Clare Millington, General Manager – Asia at Kukri Sports said: “The Hong Kong Sevens event has always been special for Kukri Sports and this year is no different. Our global Product Design Team have made huge efforts in developing the sustainable apparel for the event and we can’t wait to see how it is received.

“We have absolutely no doubt it will be another event to remember, and we are proud of our efforts in being able to produce these products for fans and athletes alike.”

The online store is now live with merchandise available to purchase ahead of the tournament, or during the event itself from one of the stadium stalls.

The three-day event takes place from March 31 to April 2, with 16 teams competing on rugby’s greatest stage.

16/03/202314/04/2023

Kukri Sports are proud to announce our partnership with UCI Cycling World Championships, for the upcoming 2023 event in Glasgow.

Kukri are the official provider of workforce and volunteer clothing for the event, which will combine 13 existing UCI World Championships together into one mega event for the first time, making it one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.

For more information on the even visit www.cyclingworldchamps.com

“It is fantastic to welcome Kukri Sports as our official provider of workforce and volunteer clothing for the 4,000 plus staff and volunteers working at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. With an exceptional reputation for supplying high quality sport and leisurewear clothing, we can be confident our staff and volunteers will be looking their best as Scotland welcomes athletes and spectators from around the world to the biggest cycling event in history this summer.” – Trudy Lindblade, CEO of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

“We are extremely excited to be supporting the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland this summer. It is such a huge event and the first of its kind in the cycling world. We take great pride in supporting the thousands of staff and volunteers who will be supporting such a monumental event.” – Josh Beal, Sales Director, Kukri Sports

If you are interested in partnering with Kukri Sports, or want to know how we can help with your kit requirements Get In Touch

06/03/202314/04/2023

The sports brand has announced a record-breaking year, including successes with international sporting events and key partnership extensions.

Kukri Sports has announced significant global growth for their brand, after another hugely successful year in 2022. Sales figures rose significantly by a record 23%, whilst profits rose by 58%.

After adapting to the easing of pandemic restrictions around the world the business has sustained relationships with premium global sporting events, whilst a number of high-profile partnership announcements and extensions have taken place as the brand continues to be a leading provider for National Governing Bodies, education providers and sporting clubs across the world.

In 2022, Kukri continued to provide high-quality bespoke teamwear and leisure wear for the world stage, delivering an unprecedented service to partnered teams and athletes at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, with teams including Team England and Canada. They also continued their 17th year of sponsorship of the Hong Kong Sevens following its return in November.

As a global business Kukri also experienced exponential growth in various regions, including the Middle East, Ireland and North America, with an increase in custom-made teamwear orders from teams in the regions and an increased demand for their apparel online. To further solidify their presence, Kukri signed multiple sponsorship deals, including an extension with one of their longest serving clients, Dubai College, and a 3-year partnership with Cougar Volley as their official kit supplier.

Additionally, the sports brand also signed and extended agreements with a host of other partners such as Loughborough University, Welsh Gymnastics, British Wrestling, England Lacrosse, British Wheelchair Basketball, Rugby School and a number of other well renowned educational institutions.

Last year, the brand’s initiative to reduce their environmental effect while also caring for individuals who create and wear their products throughout the world, continued to excel.

Andrew Ronnie, Group Chief Executive at Kukri Sports, said: “This year has once again seen an exponential rise in sales numbers while we have also continued to ensure we are delivering excellent levels of customer service and satisfaction, despite some of the most challenging trading times.

Another focus for us has been our ambition to continue to improve our products and develop our sustainability ambitions, giving our partners across the world the choice of a more environmentally friendly kit provision – something you will see at our events this year.

The year ahead promises to be no less of a success for us and we have some exciting events to look forward to, including the bi-centential celebrations with our partner Rugby School amongst others. We continue to put a huge focus on supporting athletes across the board – be that youth, female, or male athletes.”

03/02/202303/02/2023

Kukri Sports are delighted to further extend our partnership with Dubai College for a further 3 years until 2026.

As part of the agreement Kukri will continue to provide a full range of bespoke school sportswear for both on and off field, for both staff and pupils.

Established in 1978, Dubai College is one of the most prestigious schools in the UAE, with a reputation for combining academic excellence with an outstanding sporting provision.

Find out more about Dubai College

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Kukris Sports, which have consistently delivered high quality to Dubai College sport for over a decade. The quality of their product has provided our student body with first rate sports apparel, both in curriculum and for our numerous sports teams.” Andrew Jones, Director of Sport, Dubai College.

“With a decade of partnership behind us, we are thrilled to continue our collaboration with Dubai College, a school in Dubai known for their exceptional sports program. We look forward to providing them the best quality sportswear and designs to support their athletes in reaching their full potential on and off the field.” Kobus Cronje, Regional Manager, Kukri Sports.

If you are interested in partnering with Kukri Sports, or want to know how we can help, Get in touch

01/02/202301/02/2023

Kukri Sports are proud to announce our multi-year contract extension with St Mary’s University, who are based in Twickenham.

As part of the deal Kukri will remain as the official sportswear partner, supplying a full range of competition kit as well as offering a customisable training and leisurewear range.
St Mary’s is an elite university, with over 6,000 undergraduate and post graduate students across the four academic schools, for more information visit www.stmarys.ac.uk.

“We’re pleased to be extending our relationship with Kukri for a further two years, building on the success of our partnership that began in 2018. The quality of kit provided for St Mary’s students and staff has been excellent, and the competition and training kit designs ensure that we can continue to create a unique identity and sense of belonging for our sporting community. We look forward to continuing to develop our students’ sporting experience with Kukri.” – Gareth Crewe, Sport Development Manager, St Mary’s University.

“It is great to be extending our partnership with St Mary’s University. We have worked with them since 2018 to produce an offering which covers multiple facets of the university, from playing kit, SU leisurewear, playing kit and staff kit. We look forward to continuing to develop the range for all students and support the success of St Mary’s sporting development and offering through our partnership.” – Josh Beal, Sales Director, Kukri Sports.

If you are interested in partnering with Kukri Sports, or want to know how we can help, Get in touch

19/01/202319/01/2023

Kukri Sports are delighted to announce a 3-year partnership with Cougar Volleyball who are based in Maple Ridge Canada.

As part of the deal Kukri will be the official kit supplier to the team, providing uniform, apparel and sportswear for all athletes and staff.

Founded in 2020 Cougar were the first Volleyball team in the Ridge Meadows region of Canada. The club aims to create opportunities for athletes ages 8+ to establish a long-term passion for the sport of volleyball, while learning the values of teamwork, leadership, and a common goal.

“The Cougars Volleyball Club is pleased to announce it’s partnership with Kukri Sports as their official and exclusive uniform, apparel & gear supplier. We are excited to be working with Kukri Sports as they have provided us with high quality products & exceptional service since our club started a few years ago” James Tecson, Club Director, Couger Volleyball

“We are delighted to have entered into a 3 year partnership with Cougar Volleyball who we worked with last year, providing them with both on and off court apparel.  Cougar Volleyball have ambitious growth plans and we look forward to supporting them as they continue to expand, ensuring their athletes are able to train and compete in industry leading apparel along with providing an online store for retail purchases too.” Jamie Williams – Vice President, Kukri Sports North America.

For more details on Cougars volleyball visit Cougar Volleyball Club or check out their Instagram @cougars_volleyball

To find out how we can support your sportswear needs Contact Us