Category: News

22/12/202319/12/2023

With the curtain closing on another year, Kukri Sports is proud to celebrate some remarkable achievements and collaborative victories in 2023.

As the industry leading choice for athletes and teams around the world, Kukri has not only strengthened its position in the market, but has also continued to forge meaningful partnerships that underscores its commitment to excellence.

A year of innovation and growth

Kukri continued to innovate and enhance its product offerings in 2023, introducing cutting-edge fabrics, advanced performance features and stylish designs that fuel athletes’ performances at all levels.

Groundbreaking partnerships

Kukri’s commitment to supporting athletes across a wide range of sports resulted in exciting partnerships throughout the year.

The collaboration with Special Olympics saw the creation of individual kit for 82 athletes, 35 coaches and eight support staff for this year’s World Games. The partnership continues to promote inclusivity and diversity in sport, whilst helping to provide innovative and cutting-edge sportswear to help athletes break participation boundaries. Read more here.

Furthering its commitment to the education market, Kukri also joined forces with a variety of universities and schools, including Plymouth Marjon, University of Exeter and Dean Close School.

Kukri also extended its global reach with partnerships with international sports federations and organisations. A recent partnership with Barbados Olympic Association has seen an exciting new chapter, in which we played a pivotal role in shaping the identity and image of their teams competing in this year’s CAC Games El Salvador Dominican Republic and this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games.

Financial growth around the world

Kukri’s subsidiaries have also had a very successful year. Robust growth has not only contributed substantially to the overall revenue but has also diversified Kukri’s market presence.

Memorable moments for partners

2023 also saw some memorable moments for Kukri’s partners. Somerset County Cricket Club triumphed to win this year’s Vitality Blast, whilst Loughborough Lightning Netball team claimed their second Netball Super League title with a 57-48 win over London Pulse.

Amongst other achievements, England Lacrosse Senior Womens and Men’s were crowned Home International Champions, British Wheelchair Basketball’s Men’s team reached the IWBF World Championships final, Hong Kong China men won the Hangzhou Asian Games Rugby Sevens and Rugby School won their U18 rugby double header against Barbarian FC, bringing their bicentenary celebrations to an end in style.

Ambassadors continue to shine

Kukri is also pleased to have announced its new selection of Youth Talent Programme Ambassadors, in conjunction with England Athletics. Find out more.

One of the ambassadors, Amy Thompson, continues to raise awareness in her role about the misconceptions and importance of showcasing disabled athletes in sport. Amy was also crowned Ambulant shot-put champion at this year’s England Athletic Open and Senior Para Championships.

Our International Beach Volleyball Ambassadors, the Bello Brothers, have also had a successful year. Javier & Joaquin Bello were crowned UK Beach Tour champions for the fourth consecutive time this year, whilst also achieving bronze at the Beach Pro Tour in Goa, India, in October.

Find out more about our Ambassadors.

Reflecting on this year, Andrew Ronnie, Group Executive Chairman at Kukri Sports, said “I am thrilled to celebrate another successful year for Kukri Sports. Our commitment to innovation, partnerships, and sustainability has propelled us to new heights. We are very grateful to our partners, athletes and customers for their support, and we look forward to continuing to shape the future of sports next year.”

Are you looking for a sportswear provider?

Kukri is a leading global sportswear provider, renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation across a wide range of sports.

We offer a diverse range of products, designed for athletes at every level. Contact us here and start your journey today.

14/12/202314/12/2023

Kukri Sports is proud to highlight the outstanding achievements of its partners teams at this year’s Dubai Sevens Tournament.

The Tournament, held at the iconic Sevens Stadium from 1-3 December, showcased thrilling matches and fierce competition, with eleven of Kukri’s partners in the Middle East competing.

Kukri played a pivotal role in supporting its partners with swift deliverability and dynamic designs, collaborating closely with partners to create 24 innovative and cutting-edge kit designs for the tournament. This remarkable feat was achieved within demanding time constrains of only two weeks, demonstrating our commitment to excellence and dedication to helping our partners to achieve their goals.

Read more about Kukri’s support.

In an all Kukri final, Dubai College U19 boys were crowned winners of the 2023 U19 Gulf Cup after beating Dubai English Speaking College in a thrilling encounter. This came a year after Dubai College’s U19 girls were crowned U19 Gulf Cup winners in their debut at the tournament last year.

Amongst other notable achievements for our partners, Thursday Night Lights reached the semi-final in the Gulf Men’s Social, while Bahrain RFC’s Men’s 1^st XV secured a commendable fourth-place finish in the Gulf Men’s League.

Making their debut in the tournament and first time playing as a team, The Club Abu Dhabi reached the quarter-final of the plate and British School Al Khubairat’s boys rugby team reached the cup semi-final.

Kukri would also like to congratulate its other partners’ teams on their performances throughout the tournament.

Reflecting on the tournament and partners’ achievements, Chris Marshall, Global Brand Director at Kukri Sports, said “We are very proud of the outstanding performances of our partner teams at this year’s Dubai Sevens Tournament. Their achievements underline the commitment to excellence shared by both our brand and these athletes.

“We’ve really enjoyed collaborating with them closely to create new designs that not only captured the teams’ identity, but made the players feel at their best when participating. We look forward to continued success together and providing support for a variety of teams for next year’s tournament.”

Kukri is committed to providing high-quality, innovative sportswear that empowers athletes to perform at their best. The success of our partner teams at the Dubai Sevens Tournament serves as a testament to our dedication to supporting athletes in achieving their goals at all levels across a wide range of sports.

Are you looking for a new 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.

With a relentless commitment to excellence and expertise in creating personalised designs, we are the ideal partner to help you achieve your sporting goals.

Contact us here to find out how we can empower your team.

08/12/202308/12/2023

As the Welsh Trampoline/DMT Championships edge closer, Kukri Sports recently sat down with accomplished trampoline gymnast, India Marshall, as she shared an insight into her gymnastics journey and aspirations in an exclusive interview.

Reflecting on her journey in gymnastics, India said, “I saw it on TV and just decided to take it on and have loved it ever since.” This love for the sport has driven her to impressive heights, including a standout moment in 2016 when she triumphed to claim Individual and Team Gold at the Junior Commonwealth Championships in Namibia.

“I was shocked because I was against other women who were incredible and didn’t think I stood a chance, but winning the team medal for Wales was an amazing feeling with a great group of girls.”

The upcoming Welsh Trampoline/DMT Championships, which will take place at Sport Wales on Sunday 10 December, hold special importance for India, who shared her preparation strategy ahead of the event. “Leading up to the Championships, I have been really focusing on developing confidence and competence linking multiple doubles and increasing my height.

“My main skill-based goals are to increase my confidence and increase my time of flight. I have been working a lot this year on my competition mindset and figuring out what works for me in terms of focus and preparation.”

India also emphasised the importance of mental aspects of competition preparation, stating, “Finding enjoyment outside of training and making time for myself has also been imperative in maintaining focus throughout the last 5 weeks of competition prep.

“In trampolining, you have to be so patient and trust the process, things don’t happen at the click of a finger. You have to be disciplined, keep going and turning up to training and if things aren’t going right, take a step back and go again.”

As she approaches the Championships, India remains focused on her goals, both in terms of skills and mindset. “I just want to keep enjoying and loving it. I want to keep going and pushing myself, hopefully compete in more Internationals in the future, and the Olympics would be awesome too.

“I love the sport and love competing, so reminding myself I have the choice to turn up to training every day helps me maintain my focus and discipline.

“Learning isn’t linear, and knowing I train and compete because I want to is a massive factor in my motivation.

“As long as I’m enjoying it and my body allows me to do it, I’ll keep going.”

Kukri have been a proud partner of Welsh Gymnastics for a number of years, providing bespoke leisure and podium wear for all performance programmes, national teams and squads.

Kukri, who extended its deal with Welsh Gymnastics in 2022, continue to work on advancing the style, fit and performance of the kit range to ensure gymnasts can unleash their greatness in training and respective competitions.

Find out more about Welsh Gymnastics.

As an elite multi-sports sportswear supplier, we are committed to providing athletes and teams at all levels with high-quality and cutting edge performance wear.

We support all athletes in their pursuit of greatness at all levels, and wish our partner’s gymnasts the best of luck competing in the Welsh Trampoline/DMT Championships this weekend.

Are you looking for a sportswear provider? Get in touch here.

28/11/202328/11/2023

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.

Find out more about our partners

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.

15/11/202315/11/2023

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.

14/11/202313/11/2023

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.

09/11/202307/11/2023

As a leading teamwear sports brand Kukri Sports is reshaping the landscape of sportswear and sports partnerships, going above and beyond the traditional role of a supplier. With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Kukri offers a wide range of services and solutions that make them more than just a sports brand.

On offer is not only a supply of high quality bespoke, personalised and off the shelf apparel but also providing partners a host of additional benefits:

Dedicated Account Management: As a partner you will be provided a dedicated Personal Account Manager, ensuring a seamless and personalised experience.

Support at Partner Events: Supporting partner events is a key facet of Kukri, who support partners by engaging with their core audience effectively, whether it be at a university freshers’ event or international competitions.

Bespoke Designed Sportswear: Sportswear isn’t just a uniform; it’s a symbol of identity and belonging. Kukri Sports offers a rich variety of custom-designed sportswear, tailored to the unique requirements of each partner. They understand that personalized sportswear cultivates a profound sense of identity and belonging among fans and athletes. Through the incorporation of team colours, logos, and individual details, Kukri’s sportswear creations are the fabric of community, evoking deep emotional connections and a feeling of uniqueness.

Bespoke at Scale: The sports world often demands custom products on a grand scale, and Kukri is perfectly poised to meet this demand. Their well-established infrastructure, experienced design team, adaptable production processes, and a proven track record of reliable and timely delivery are the cornerstones of their ability to cater efficiently to the unique requirements of their partners. Notably, they’ve risen to the occasion for esteemed partners like Team England and England Athletics, ensuring the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

Small Production Runs: Flexibility is Kukri’s forte. Whether you need unique items for a niche netball team or comprehensive apparel ranges for National Governing Bodies, their adaptable approach ensures that they can cater to the specific needs of both grassroots and elite-level sports organizations.

Global Presence, Local Support: With a global presence, Kukri Sports ensures local support for all partners. The business has offices in 7 countries, across 5 continents – Click here to find out more

In-house Design Support: Creating the perfect sportswear designs just got more accessible. Kukri’s in-house design team collaborates with partners to bring their visions to life.

Full Range of Sustainable Sportswear: Kukri is committed to sustainability, offering an entire range of eco-friendly sportswear options. Now, you can not only look good but also feel good about your choices and be kinder to the planet.

Online E-commerce Management: Managing e-commerce platforms can be complex, but with Kukri’s expertise, it’s a streamlined and efficient process for our partners.

Inclusive Sizing: In the world of sports, having the right-sized sportswear is essential. Kukri provides an extensive range of sizes to cater to all athletes, ensuring that everyone’s kit fits to perfection and enhances their performance.

Partnership Activation Management: It’s not just about having partnerships; it’s about making the most of them. Kukri Sports actively manages and activates partnerships to ensure maximum impact, helping partners achieve their goals and objectives with bespoke activations.

Kukri Sports is not just a sports brand; it’s dedicated in a world where sports bring people together and create lifelong memories, Kukri Sports is more than just a sports brand. They are your dedicated partner, committed to elevating the game from grassroots to elite levels. With top-quality sportswear and unwavering support, they redefine what it means to be part of a team. Kukri Sports is where identity, belonging, and excellence converge, and they’re making a significant impact on and off the field.

07/11/202307/11/2023

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.

Click here to find out more about Kieran.

Follow Kieran on social media:

Instagram – @kieranmolloy12

Facebook – @Kieran Molloy

Twitter – @kieranmolloy8

06/11/202303/11/2023

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.