ACHIEVEING SWIFT DELIVERY WITH DYNAMIC DESIGNS AT THIS YEAR’S DUBAI SEVENS TOURNAMENT
This year, eleven of Kukri Sports’ partners, based in the Middle East, will be competing in the Dubai Sevens Tournament. As their official Kit supplier, Kukri has played a crucial role in facilitating the participation of their partner’s teams.
Starting on 1 December, the Dubai Sevens is annual sporting event held at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, UAE. Find out more about the Dubai Sevens
A number of Kukri partners are competing in the tournament, such as Bahrain RFC, Dubai College & Victoria International School.
A proud achievement from last year’s tournament was the success of our partner Dubai College, when their U19 Girls Team were crowned Gulf U19 Girls winners in their first year competing in the tournament.
In the lead up to this year’s prestigious event, Kukri faced various challenges:
Design Challenges
Kukri are renowned for an ability to create truly bespoke designs across multiple sports. This year posed a special challenge as the team was tasked with developing distinct kit on and off-field designs for each of the partner’s teams, spanning rugby, netball, and cricket, whilst catering for various age groups.
Collaborating closely with the partners, the design team meticulously crafted concepts that precisely aligned with the specific needs of each participating team, combining innovation with cutting-edge designs. In total, the projects resulted in the creation of 24 individual kit designs for the tournament.
Production Challenges
The team also faced the task of producing limited production runs exclusively for the participating teams, all within demanding time constraints of only two weeks.
To meet this challenge, they collaborated diligently with print factories in the UK, ensuring the delivery of high-quality products within flexible timelines.
“We are incredibly excited to support our partners at this years’ Dubai Sevens tournament,” said Chris Marshall, Global Brand Director at Kukri Sports. “We have been working closely with them to understand the performance requirements of the garments and at the same time capture the unique identity of each individual team.
Our sportswear is designed to help athletes reach their full potential, and we are proud to provide our partners with cutting-edge training and match wear they need to thrive throughout the tournament.”
We wish our partners competing the best of luck and are proud to fuel their journey towards greatness in Dubai’s most prestigious competition.
Are you looking for a bespoke sportswear provider?
As a leading global bespoke sportswear provider, Kukri can support all teams from grassroots to elite level across a wide variety of team sports.
For information on how we can help you in your sport, get in touch.
Young Sports Person of the Year Named New Kukri Sports YTP Ambassador
Kukri Sports are pleased to announce that Ayesha Jones, who was recently crowned Sporting Equals Young Sportsperson of the Year whilst representing England, has been selected as a new Youth Talent Programme Ambassador for the 2023/24 Athletics season.
Ayesha, a rising star in athletics, has enjoyed great success over recent seasons in her discipline, javelin, after becoming a Commonwealth Youth Games Champion and record holder at this year’s games in Trinidad & Tobago, throwing an impressive 52.49m.
Ayesha, a Commonwealth Youth Games champion, is thrilled about her new role and the opportunity to inspire younger athletes. “When I was contacted and asked if I wanted to become a Kukri Sports YTP Ambassador, I felt honoured. To be able to have Kukri’s trust and support in becoming an ambassador and being able to represent the brand moving forwards is incredible.”
Ayesha, who will be joined by five other ambassadors selected by Kukri Sports for the 2023/24 Athletics season, continues to break records after enjoying successful 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Speaking on her recent achievements, Ayesha admitted she’s ‘living a dream’ and paid testament to her family. “Being in environments with other top athletes from around the world is something I will always cherish, as well as becoming a Commonwealth Youth Games champion.
“Winning the title for my discipline was something I wanted since I heard about the selection, and to be able to achieve it as well as setting a new games record was surreal.
“I’ve missed family events or left events early to go training, but I know they understand and are all proud of me for what I have achieved up to this point. Succeeding the way I have is showing me what I do is something to be proud of.”
Moving forwards, the recently crowned Sporting Equals Young Sportsperson of the Year award is hungry for more success. “Hopefully I can become an England Senior athlete. Representing my country and myself at the World Championships as well as the Olympic Games.
“My ultimate goal is to continue to perform to the best of my ability and being recognised, not only as a progressing athlete but also reaching Senior Level.”
Commenting on the news, Josh Beal, Sales Director at Kukri Sports, said “We are delighted to welcome Ayesha as a new Youth Talent Programme Ambassador. We’re looking forward to supporting her in future competitions and believe she will be a great role model for younger athletes.”
The Youth Talent Programme, in conjunction with Kukri’s partner, England Athletics, is the first key step on the Talent Pathway designed to identify, develop and support athletes and para-athletes from aged 16+ who have the potential to represent England and Great Britain at domestic and international competitions in the future.
Click here to find out more about the Youth Talent pathway.
The partnership between Kukri Sports and England Athletics with the Youth Talent Programme Ambassadors promises exciting developments. Stay tuned for upcoming events, collaborative content and more coming soon.
Kukri Sports are proud to be partnered with England Athletics and are committed to providing athletes with the products and support they need to perform at their best. We’re also proud to support the England Athletics Youth Talent Programme and to help young athletes reach their full potential.
Click here to find out more about England Athletics.
Dean Close Partnership Announcement
Kukri Sports are delighted to announce our new 5 year partnership with Dean Close School, a leading education provider, based in Cheltenham.
As part of the partnership, Kukri will provide a full range of bespoke sportswear for staff and pupils, both on and off field.
Dean Close was established in 1886 and offers all-through education for day and boarding pupils ages 2-18. The school has 100 percent participation in sport and physical activity, with over 800 pupils from year 3 to 13 already taking part in school sport and physical activity in nearly 1500 fixtures played over the year. Click here to find out more about Dean Close.
“We are delighted to have forged a partnership with Kukri sports after an extensive process where we research the market to see who we felt would work best with Dean Close. Kukri’s work with Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year convinced us that the range and quality of their kit could meet our own standards and expectations. It has already proved to be a real partnership, where Kukri have listened and responded to our needs and feedback to finally arrive at a range of kit that will allow us to progress and adapt to the future of school sport.”– Greg Barber-Williams, Director of Sport, Dean Close.
“Kukri Sports are proud to be working with Dean Close and become the official sportswear provider to the school. We will provide multiple ranges, to cover school PE and games, first team kit, staff wear and wider merchandise. We are excited to deliver the new ranges and showcase the quality of what Kukri has to offer.
Kukri will also aim to support wider projects at Dean Close, with a key one being sustainability. Kukri has found real synergy with Dean Close, with both organisations looking at making huge strides on the environmental impact they have within their two industries.
We are looking forward to seeing how far the partnership can grow over the coming years!” – Josh Beal, Sales Director, Kukri Sports.
To find out how we can support your sportswear needs, contact us.
KUKRI SPORTS’ BOXING AMBASSADOR KIERAN MOLLOY REFLECTS ON ‘INCREDIBLE’ U.S. DEBUT
Irish professional boxer and Kukri Sports’ ambassador, Kieran Molloy, marked his U.S. debut in style with a stunning round 1 technical knockout victory.
On a memorable night for Molloy’s camp, the exciting prospect pushed his slate to 7-0 as a professional in Boston when he stopped opponent, Daniel Sostre, in the first round.
Molloy, an Irish professional boxer who continues to impress, rose to prominence in the amateur scene with 202 wins in 221 fights, which included 11x National Champion, 3x Irish Elite Champion and an EU Bronze medallist, as well as a Youth European and World medallist, all by the age of 23.
Reflecting on a special night, Molloy expressed his gratitude, saying, “I felt right at home. The support was fantastic, and to top it off with a first-round technical knockout as well was the icing on the cake.
“Kukri made a very special kit for the fight that showed the Irish & American flag, which everyone loved. The support was incredible, and I think we can continue to make big moves on the east coast moving forward.”
Molloy, who has been boxing since he was 5 years old, joined Kukri as an ambassador in March 2022 and remains confident on achieving his ultimate goal.
“It’s nice to feel that all the hard work has paid off with quick victories like that. These nights are all stepping stones towards the ultimate goal of becoming world champion.
“Kukri have been incredibly helpful for providing me with high-quality training gear during camp and also tracksuits for myself and my team during fight week. It always feels nice to have my team wearing gear that looks professional.”
Reflecting on the preparations ahead of his bout, Molloy heaped the praise on the work of his coach. “My coach Angel Fernandez always has a great structure in training for myself to focus on the game plan, and also the mental/conditioning side so that we’re ready for whatever may come in fights.”
“The game plan was to go hard to the body first to break him down. After I landed about two hard blows clean, I could see in his eyes that he didn’t want to be there, so I upped the tempo that eventually overwhelmed him and he could not continue after two knockdowns.”
Looking ahead to an exciting future, Molloy revealed all on his plans over the coming months.
“I’ll be fighting in my home city on 1 December in Salthill for the Irish welterweight title. This will hopefully be my first title as a professional boxer, official announcement and opponent will all be revealed soon.”
Kukri would like to congratulate Kieran Molloy on his impressive win and look forward to supporting him throughout his career in the world of boxing.
As a leading sportswear supplier, we remain dedicated to supporting athletes in their pursuit of greatness, and we are proud to stand by Kieran as he continues his incredible journey.
Kukri Sports is pleased to have showcased its commitment and expertise in rugby with over a month’s worth of dedicated, exclusive content.
We were proud to highlight our invaluable partnerships with rugby teams and educational institutions from around the world, showcasing our support on and off the pitch and how we aim to inspire players to perform to their maximum potential.
Waikato Rugby
Among the partnerships featured were Waikato Rugby, based in New Zealand, who Kukri have been the proud official kit supplier of since 2009. Founded in 1921, Waikato have a long-standing history of rugby culture and success at all levels of the game, producing 63 All Blacks and consistently among the top performing provincial unions in the country.
Click here to read more about our partnership with Waikato Rugby.
Ulster Rugby
We were also proud to highlight our historic partnership with Ulster Rugby, who Kukri have been the official kit, training and leisurewear supplier for 15 years. Ulster, who became the first Irish team and first team outside of England & France to win the European Cup in 1999, are set to embark on a new season after reaching the quarter-final of the United Rugby Championship last season.
Click here to find out more about our partnership with Ulster Rugby.
Around the World
We were also proud to shine a light on some of our other rugby partners from around the world. These included Rugby Alberta, the provincial administrative body for rugby union in Alberta, Canada. Kukri have been a proud partner of Rugby Alberta for over a decade, servicing both their age grade programmes and their high-performance group – ‘The Wolf Pack’.
Another partner to feature was Rugby School, a leading British education institution whose heritage and prestige is world-renowned. As part of the partnership, we provide a full range of bespoke sportswear for staff and pupils, both on and off the field.
UBC Women’s Rugby Team are another partner that we are proud to have shone a light on recently. The team are part of the UBC Thunderbirds Athletics and Recreation franchise based in Vancouver, Canada. The team have enjoyed great success over recent years after being crowned Canada West Women’s Rugby Champions in four of the last five seasons, and we are honoured to fuel their journey to greatness by collaborating with them on their playing kit and specific rugby apparel.
We were also proud to highlight our partnerships with North Brisbane Rugby Club and Grasshoppers Club Zürich Rugby, with the latter being the second oldest rugby club in Switzerland. Kukri’s relationship with the Swiss club dates back almost two decades, and we are proud to be their kit suppliers for on and off-field sportswear and merchandise.
Click here to read more about our partners from around the world.
Middle East
It was also fantastic to be able to showcase the continued success of our longstanding partnerships with rugby teams and education institutions in the Middle East. Bahrain RFC, traditionally one of the finest and historical sporting clubs in the region, have been an official partner since 2013.
Meanwhile, Dubai College has also been a proud partner of the business for over a decade. They offer a vibrant rugby programme, allowing athletes to improve their rugby and individual skills. Their teams have excelled over recent years, with the U18’s girls team becoming the first UAE representatives to compete in the prestigious Rosslyn Park 7s last year, whilst the U19 girls team triumphed in their first Emirates Dubai 7s tournament to win the Sevens Gulf U19 girls title.
Click here to read more about our rugby partners in the Middle East.
Reflecting on the campaign, Andrew Ronnie, Group Executive Chairman at Kukri Sports, said, “Our passion for sport is at the core of what we do, and this campaign has allowed us to connect with the global rugby community. We are very proud of the partnerships we have built, our history and the progress we continue to make in providing teams and players of all ages with innovative sportswear that will facilitate their performance.”
At Kukri Sports, we are committed to providing our rugby partners with the highest quality sportswear, designed to help players perform at their best whilst wearing kit that is durable, comfortable and stylish.
Choose from hundreds of options to create your rugby team’s bespoke identity. Click here to find out more.
For more information on how we can help your rugby team, GET IN TOUCH.
Our Rugby partners in the middle east
Kukri Sports is proud to showcase the continued success of its longstanding partnerships with rugby teams and education institutions in the Middle East.
We provide our partners with high-quality sportswear, designed to help players perform at their best. Our rugby kits are made with innovative materials and cutting-edge technology that provides players of all levels with comfort and durability that they need in order to focus on the pitch.
Over recent years, we have established enduring partnerships with numerous influential rugby institutions, including prestigious clubs Ulster Rugby and Waikato Rugby, as well as national events such as the Hong Kong Sevens, grassroots clubs such as Preston Grasshoppers and multiple universities and schools around the world.
Recently, we have been shining a light on our partnerships with rugby teams from around the world, providing an insight into how we provide support through our unparalleled commitment to innovation. Click here to find out more.
As part of this series, two of our partners in the Middle East that we will be focusing on are Bahrain RFC and Dubai College.
Bahrain Rugby Football Club
Traditionally one of the finest and historical sporting clubs in the region, Bahrain Rugby Football Club (Bahrain RFC) provide a fantastic experience for athletes looking to take part in recreational or competitive sports.
As an official partner of Bahrain RFC since 2013, Kukri supply the official match day kit and training range for all senior teams and entire junior section, covering sports such as rugby, cricket, netball, football and badminton.
After forming over 50 years ago, Bahrain RFC now boasts in excess of 6,000 members, becoming one of the largest and foremost private clubs within the Kingdom.
They started life as a section of ‘the British club’ in 1971, before officially becoming its own separate entity in 1974 and taking up residence at a small ground on the perimeter of the main runway at Bahrain International Airport.
After regular fixtures against local sides, Bahrain RFC moved to a new home in Saar in 1977, before embarking on a golden era during the 1980’s, becoming a powerhouse on the field of play across the annual Arabian Gulf League, Arabian Golf Cup and Dubai Sevens competitions.
Another significant development came in 1991, where the club received formal recognition by an association with the General Organisation of Youth and Sports, which opened more avenues to promote both the club and its adopted country.
Success continued on the pitch in the 1990s, which was also the period in which the club had started to extend its sport programmes, with the introduction of ladies netball and junior and veterans’ rugby.
Bahrain RFC had another significant moment in 1999 when they played Bahrain Defence Force XV in front of King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. King Hamad honoured the club by inviting them to play and by kicking off the match himself.
The club hired its first full-time Director of Rugby and several new players from the UK and Australasia, which played a pivotal part in them reaching the 2016/17 West Asia Cup final, as well as being crowned West Asia Cup champions during the 2017/18, 2018/19 & 2019/20 seasons.
Commenting on the partnership, Lindsey Gibson, Sports Manager and forwards coach at Bahrain RFC, said “At Bahrain RFC we are very unique in the sense we have many various sports and age groups, this poses a challenge of kitting out our full club with sports kitsthat are comfortable to wear, whilst also showing our identity and representing our club.
“Kukri have been amazing with this, covering all sections from U6 football and Netball right up to our first XV rugby team. The kit has always been of excellent quality with unique designs for every section, each season. The design team is very accommodating of our needs.
“Kukri is also the first company we have used that consistently delivers on delivery timelines, which is essential for our sporting season’s starting.”
We look forward to many more years sporting the Kukri kit at Bahrain Rugby Football Club.”
Established in 1978, Dubai College is one of the most prestigious schools in the United Arab Emirates, with a reputation for combining academic excellence with an outstanding sporting provision.
As a proud partner of Dubai College for over a decade, Kukri provide a full range of bespoke school sportswear for pupils and staff for a wide range of sports, both on and off the field.
Sport plays a central role in the extra-curricular life of Dubai College and provides every student with the opportunity to develop to the very best of their physical ability.
They offer a vibrant rugby programme, allowing athletes to improve their rugby and individual skills and developing a culture that drives high performance at the individual and team.
Dubai College’s rugby programme consists of Boys & Girls Rugby teams, with girls’ rugby continuing to thrive due to a recent increase in the number of participants. The U18s girls team became the first UAE representatives to compete in the prestigious Rosslyn Park 7s last year, competing and pushing some top schools in the UK by losing out narrowly in the semi-finals.
Last year also marked the first time the Dubai College U19 rugby girls team competed in the Emirates Dubai 7’s tournament, marking their debut in the tournament in style after beating Jumeirah English Speaking School 33-12 in the final to win the Sevens Gulf U19 girls title.
The start of the new term has also been a successful one for some Dubai College rugby teams, with the U19 girls team competing in their first tournament of the term at the Dubai English Speaking College 7s tournament.
Dubai College’s U19 boys team were also invited to play in the St Peters College 100 years centenary celebrations during their pre-season tour of Sri Lanka. The team competed against some top schools and were crowned plate winners, with their focus now shifting onto the British School Al Khubairat 7s and Emirates Dubai 7s tournaments that take place later this year.
Commenting on the successful and ongoing partnership, Andrew Jones, Director of Sport at Dubai College, said “We are delighted to be partnered with Kukri Sports, who have consistently delivered high-quality to Dubai College sport teams 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.”
We are proud to be partnered with both Bahrain RFC and Dubai College, providing them and all our partners in the Middle East with cutting-edge and innovative playing kit and training wear that helps them to unleash their greatness on the pitch.
Click here to find out more about our ruby partners.
For more information on how we can help you and the services we can provide for your rugby team, get in touch.
Rugby in Focus: Our Historic Partnership With Ulster Rugby
As part of our ongoing campaign on highlighting our global presence in rugby, we are proud to highlight our long-standing partnership with Ulster Rugby, one of the most historical and successful provincial rugby union teams in Ireland.
Kukri has been Ulster’s official kit, training and leisurewear supplier for 15 years. We also provide the kit for the club’s Academy, age-grade and representative teams, as well as coaches, referees and staff across the province of Ulster.
Ulster’s new home and alternate kits are now available ahead of the new season, click here to view more and browse their training & leisurewear range.
Ulster became the first Irish team and the first team outside of England & France to win the European Cup in 1999, topping their group with four wins from six games, before defeating Toulouse, Stade Francais and later Colomiers in the final to lift the prestigious trophy.
Prior to becoming a professional team, Ulster were a representative amateur team taking part in the IRFU Interprovincial Championship. They won the tournament 26 times in total, with their greatest period of success being between 1980-1990s where they won ten titles in a row, before being declared as a professional team in 1995 after the rugby union was declared to open professionalism.
Ulster’s success has continued over recent years under the guidance of coach Dan McFarland, who was appointed at the beginning of the 2018-19 season. They reached the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship in the 2021-22 season, however narrowly missed out on the final after losing to Stormers in Cape Town.
The Ulstermen also reached the quarter-final of the URC last season, becoming the first team in the competition to win all four league games against South African opposition in the process.
Commenting on the long-standing and successful partnership, Jonny Petrie, Chief Executive Officer at Ulster Rugby, said “”Kukri Sports are one of our longest serving partners at Ulster Rugby, since first becoming the club’s official kit supplier back in 2008. Over that period, they have supplied not just the playing kit and leisure wear for our men’s and women’s senior teams, but also the Ulster Academy, age-grade and representative teams, as well as coaches, referees and staff.
“Kukri have always been a proactive partner, working closely with us to develop bespoke ranges to ensure our teams look and feel their best while playing, training or travelling. With a large portfolio of rugby clubs, Kukri have a great understanding of the market and requirements, as well as the expertise to deliver a wide range of high-quality products.
“We have already launched our new home and alternate playing kits and we look forward to seeing the men’s senior team wear them in action when the new season begins in the coming weeks.”
We are proud to be partnered with Ulster Rugby and wish their teams the best of luck ahead of the new season.
Click here to find out more about our other rugby partners.
RUGBY PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD
As part of our focus on rugby this month, we are proud to be able to showcase some of our rugby partners from around the world.
At Kukri Sports, we are committed to providing our rugby partners with the highest quality sportswear, designed to help players perform at their best whilst wearing kit that is durable, comfortable and stylish.
Kukri has a long-standing history of providing elite sportswear and merchandise, tailored to meet the unique needs of rugby players. With deep-rooted values centered around performance, passion, and precision, we have cultivated a global presence in the world of rugby and are renowned for our dedication and commitment to innovation.
This is channelled through our rugby partners around the world, from our relationships with partners such as Ulster Rugby and Waikato Rugby.
Over the coming weeks, we will be shining a light on the relationships with our rugby partners from around the world and how we help to provide support at all levels with cutting-edge kit designs and a commitment to innovation at all levels.
As part of this series, the next rugby partner we will be focusing on is Rugby Alberta.
Rugby Alberta
Rugby Alberta is the provincial administrative body for rugby union in Alberta, Canada, hosting rugby competitions in the province since the 60’s.
Since the first provincial club championships in 1962, Rugby Alberta competitions have grown in size and calibre of competition.
Kukri have been partnered with Rugby Alberta for over a decade, servicing both their age grade programmes and their high performance group – ‘The Wolf Pack’. The Wolf Pack is Alberta’s representative 15s rugby team that competes in the Western and National championships, consisting of teams from Senior Men and Women to U16 / U18 Player Pathway.
Over recent years, our kits for Rugby Alberta have developed a unique identity, utilising the Kukri ‘hot pink’ colour, making the teams instantly recognisable on and off the field, as well as competing in sportswear that provides maximum durability and comfort.
Speaking on the long-standing partnership, Peter Houlihan, Director of Rugby Operations at Rugby Alberta, said “Over the duration of our partnership with Kukri, we have consistently experienced an exceptional level of excellence across product quality, service, and the overall relationship. From the outset of our partnership, we have consistently received rugby kits of the highest quality that have not only met but exceeded our expectations.
“The attention to detail in their products is evident, and our athletes across all age groups have benefitted greatly from the comfortable and durable uniforms provided by Kukri. What sets them apart is not only their superior product quality, but also their commitment to outstanding customer service. They have always been responsive, accommodating, and attentive to our specific needs.
“Whether it was customizing designs, meeting tight deadlines, or providing expert advice on kit selection, Kukri has consistently gone above and beyond to ensure our complete satisfaction.”
We are proud to be partnered with Rugby Alberta and look forward to continuing our partnership to help their teams excel on and off the pitch for years to come.
Rugby School
Kukri are proud to be partnered with Rugby School, a leading British institution whose heritage and prestige is world-renowned.
This year is a special one for the school, marking the 200th anniversary of the game of rugby football. Rugby School is the birthplace of the game and where it all started, when William Webb Ellis took the ball in his arms and ran with it on The Close at Rugby School 200 years ago. Click here to find out more about the anniversary.
As part of the partnership, we provide a full range of bespoke sportswear for staff and pupils, both on and off the field. Our sportswear is designed to meet the needs of young athletes, with the range as comfortable and practical off the field as it is high performance on it.
For more information on the inspiration behind our kits for Rugby School, click here.
Commenting on the ongoing partnership, Debbie Skene, Director of Sport at Rugby School, said “Rugby School’s sports motto is ‘nobody on the bench‘, and we pride ourselves on providing a sporting opportunity for all with a focus on participation, enjoyment, competition and excellence.
“Using Kukri sportswear allows us to express our motto as they offer high-quality sports clothing that meets the standards required by Rugby School’s athletes and teams. It is known for its customization options, allowing Rugby School teams to create unique and personalized designs that represent our school and team identity.”
We are proud to have designed a Heritage Range in collaboration with Rugby School to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the game. Click here to shop now and explore a range of high-performance products, inspired by the game’s rich history.
UBC Women’s Rugby Team
UBC Women’s Rugby team are part of the UBC Thunderbirds Athletics and Recreation franchise based in Vancouver, Canada.
The team have enjoyed great success over recent years after being crowned Canada West Women’s Rugby Champions in 2019 2020, 2021 and 2023, and winners in last year’s Canada West Rugby 7s competition.
They also continued their fine start to the season in their most recent game against University of Lethbridge with a 60-0 win, picking up their third straight clean sheet to continue their dominance in Canada West Women’s Rugby ahead of their final regular season game on 14 October.
As a proud partner of UBC Women’s Rugby team, we work in collaboration with the team on their playing kit and specific rugby apparel, ensuring it is durable and comfortable for the players when participating.
Speaking on the partnership, Dean Murten, Head Coach of UBC Women’s Rugby team, said “UBC Women’s Rugby is very proud to be partnered with Kukri Sports for on-field apparel. We’re extremely happy with the products, the support we receive with designs, and placing orders.
“We know the staff really care about supporting UBC Women’s Rugby in many ways, and they provide outstanding customer support.”
We are proud to be partnered with UBC Women’s Rugby team and wish them luck for the rest of the season.
Interested in finding out more about UBC Women’s Rugby? Click here for more information.
NorthBrisbane Rugby Club
Kukri is the proud apparel partner for North Brisbane Rugby Club, otherwise known as Norths Rugby Club, providing them with cutting-edge kit designs for the 2023 season and beyond. This includes all ages, from the teams competing in the Queensland Premier Rugby to the teams competing in the Junior Rugby Competition.
The club fields eight teams in the Senior Men’s competition, one team in the Premier Women’s competition and 25 Junior Boy’s teams and three junior Girl’s teams competing in various formats of the game.
North’s Rugby Club are a Premier Rugby Club that were formed in 1991 following a merger between Redcliffe Rugby Club Teachers Norths. The club have teams from the 1st to 6th grade, as well as Colts 1-3 & a Women’s team.
Following an alliance with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2001, in which QUT eventually moved away from an emphasis on sport, Norths decided to server their alliance in 2008 and stand alone as North Brisbane Rugby Club.
North’s have had many players that have represented the Wallabies (Australian national rugby union team), including Dick Marks, John Cornes, Geoff Richardson and Chris Roche. The latter, a star player for North’s during the 1970s and 1980s, was appointed as the club’s Coaching Director in 2005, fostering a strong relationship with players from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and recruited many players of PNG heritage to the club.
The 2016 season saw North’s take significant steps forward under the guidance of new President Kieran Prideaux, new committee and coaches. Their Premier grade notched up five wins, and reserve grade and first grade notched up six wins a piece.
North’s have continued to make great strides on and off the field in recent years, notching many memorable wins art home and away, including two victories over staunch rivals Brothers during the 2018-19 season.
Looking forward to the partnership ahead, Nigel Statham, General Manager at Norths Rugby Club, said “Norths Rugby Club has just concluded the first of a multi-year partnership with Kukri; the way the kit has held up to the rigours of a playing season has impressed all round. We look forward to continuing our partnership into 2024 and beyond.”
To find out more about Norths Rugby Club, click here.
Grasshoppers Club Zürich Rugby
Grasshopper Club Zürich Rugby (GCZ) was founded in 1968 and is the second oldest rugby club in Switzerland.
Kukri’s relationship with GCZ dates back almost two decades. Kukri are proud to be the kit suppliers of Grasshoppers Club Zürich Rugby’s on and off-field sportswear and merchandise.
They have four teams, which consist of three men’s teams and one women’s team, with both the Men’s first team and Women’s first team playing in the highest Swiss league.
The Men’s team have enjoyed recent successes, with the first team winning two of the last three Swiss Championships, and the second team winning this year’s league title. Their Women’s team are also one of the most successful rugby sides in Switzerland, winning the league consecutively between 1998 and 2011.
Speaking on the relationship, Tim Voegtli, men’s first team player at Zürich Rugby Club, said “The relationship goes back almost 20 years where Kukri have been supplying apparel and merchandise for the club since 2009. At the time rugby was a sport in Switzerland that relied solely on expatriates and Zürich being an international city benefitted from of it. The designs from old, classic jerseys still pop up at club home games proudly donned by the now no longer active players of the club.
“The flexibility in design for on and off-field merchandise helped expand the merchandise selection we could offer to our players and fans and have our logo more visible around Zürich.”
To learn more about our global rugby partnerships, click here.
Interested in starting your journey and creating your own team identity? Choose from over 200 exclusive bespoke designs and personalise your kit today. Click here to design your rugby kit.
Stay tuned for more exclusive rugby content coming soon.
RUGBY IN FOCUS: A SPOTLIGHT ON WAIKATO RUGBY
As part of our ongoing campaign, ‘Rugby in Focus’, Kukri Sports is proud to highlight our long-standing partnership with Waikato Rugby, one of the most successful professional rugby union clubs in New Zealand.
Kukri have been the proud official kit supplier for Waikato since 2009, supplying kit to all the Waikato age grade teams, FPC and NPC cup teams.
As a leading rugby kit supplier for over 20 years, Kukri have been providing teams all over the world with cutting-edge designs to ensure players and clubs can reach new heights on the pitch.
As well as providing cutting-edge designs with a commitment to innovation, Kukri’s kits are highly durable to ensure that players can perform to their best and feel comfortable when competing.
Click here to find out more about our rugby teamwear options.
Founded in 1921, Waikato Rugby are a New Zealand professional rugby union team, who compete professionally in competitions, which include the Mitre 10 Cup and National Provincial Championships.
They have a long and proud history of rugby culture and success at all levels of the game, producing 63 All Blacks and consistently among the top performing provincial unions in the country.
Waikato Rugby have two teams, the NPC team and the Waitomo Group Waikato FPC team. The NPC team compete in the Bunnings NPC, whilst the FPC team compete in the Farah Palmer Cup, and most recently missed out on another final after suffering a narrow defeat against Auckland Storm.
Since being partnered with Kukri, Waikato have gone on to achieve more memorable moments, from being crowned Mitre 10 Cup winners in 2018 to their FPC team winning the Farah Palmer Cup Premiership in 2021 after defeating provincial powerhouse Canterbury.
Commenting on the long-standing partnership, Hannah Grainger, Commercial Manager at Waikato Rugby, said “The Commercial Partnership between Kukri and Waikato Rugby continues to be a shining example of cooperation within the business and sports world. The relationship has been built on open lines of communication, shared visions and a commitment to excellence.”
Waikato Rugby continues to make great strides in encouraging participation in Rugby in New Zealand, with their being an NPC and FPC team. The latter recently marginally missed out on reaching another Farah Palmer Cup Final this year after losing to Auckland Storm.
Since the NPC starting in the late 1970s, Waikato quickly moved out of the second division and have been a force ever since, winning national provincial titles in 1992 and 2006.
Waikato also has an outstanding Ranfurly Shield record having held the Log o’ Wood on 11 different occasions, defending it 53 times, which is the third most behind Auckland and Canterbury.
At Kukri Sports, we don’t just provide teamwear; we also become an integral part of a club’s journey, from grassroots to elite rugby. Our partnership with Waikato Rugby is a testament to our dedication to supporting the sport and the teams that bring it to life.
Bespoke teamwear forms a unique part of an individual and team’s sporting story and represents a lasting link with their sport. Every individual has the ability to build their own legacy, and we are committed to help fuel an athlete’s journey by providing durable and innovative kit designs that help them to perform at their best.
Don’t miss out on a month of exclusive content as we celebrate this year’s Rugby World Cup, featuring behind the scenes insights into our rugby partners and innovative design components of our professional club kits.
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