KUKRI SPORTS’ BOXING AMBASSADOR KIERAN MOLLOY REFLECTS ON ‘INCREDIBLE’ U.S. DEBUT
Ireland
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
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.
Bridging the Gap: A ‘Black In Sport’ Intern’s Experience with Kukri Sports
United Kingdom
In recent years, the world of sports has seen significant strides towards diversity and inclusion. Organisations are realizing the importance of creating a more inclusive environment, both on and off the field. Kukri Sports recently took a significant step in this direction by hosting Ranée James, a student intern, in association with ‘Black In Sport’, for a two-week placement. From a business point of view the initiative aimed to provide a valuable insight into the world of sports from the perspective of a student.
Kukri’s decision to support a ‘Black In Sport’ intern arises from the growing need for increased diversity in the sports industry. Sports, being a universal language, should reflect the richness of diversity that the world offers. Kukri recognized the need to take active steps towards inclusivity, and this initiative showcases their ongoing commitment to this mission.
During her two-week placement Ranée had a significant impact on Kukri Sports’ approach to freshers’ events. With her unique perspective and insights, she contributed to making these events more engaging and welcoming for students of all backgrounds.
When discussing her thoughts on Kukri after completing her intern she mentioned “At Kukri, there is the intimacy there between the brand and the customer, there is more dedicated support provided that other brands don’t.
“Kukri is the perfect size to help give that attention to details customers need, whilst providing incredible kit, on not just a UK basis, but a global scale.”
Additionally, Ranée had the opportunity to review Kukri Sports’ social media accounts and website from a student’s point of view. In an age where online presence is paramount, it is crucial for companies to maintain a digital space that resonates with their target audience. Her feedback provided valuable insights into making the online experience more appealing and relatable to students.
On discussing her future after her internship Ranée concluded “Working with Kukri has helped me solidify the fact that I do want to work in Sports Marketing, because this is where I feel my roots lie, I feel I can make the strongest impact and meet the most incredible people and make a huge difference from grassroots all the way up to elite level.”
Kukri Sports Group Executive Chairman Andrew Ronnie commented; “Ranée’scontribution during her internship was not just a valuable addition to our team; it was a testament to the significance of the ‘Black In Sport’ initiative. Her unique perspective and insights have not only enriched our approach but have also reminded us that diversity is the cornerstone of progress in the sports industry. We must continue to welcome, learn from, and celebrate talents like Ranee, as they shape the future of our brand and the world of sports.”
About Black In Sport
The Black in Sport Summit is an annual summit founded by a group of Loughborough University students, born out of frustration of the discrimination that black sportspeople face and the underrepresentation of black people in certain roles within sport.
It was formed to celebrate the achievements of black people across the sports Industry and built to change the narrative, celebrating the good, instead of only highlighting the bad. Black in Sport is a platform to amplify the conversation and inspire action – FIND OUT MORE
Kukri Sports: Global Reach, Local Support
World News
In the modern world, it’s more important than ever for businesses to have a global reach. But while it’s important to be able to reach customers all over the world, it’s also important to be able to provide dedicated local support. That’s where Kukri Sports excels.
Kukri is a bespoke sportswear specialist with offices in seven regions the UK, Ireland, Canada, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. This allows the business to support customers from all over the world, whilst ensuring that customers get the personalised support they need.
One of the key benefits of the businesses size is the ability offer such a wide range of bespoke products and services to its customers. Kukri has a team of designers who are constantly working on new products and innovations.
In addition to its global reach, Kukri Sports is also committed to providing personalised local support to its customers, through its offices around the world. These offices are staffed by experienced professionals who are knowledgeable about the sportswear market and can provide customers with a range of services, including order support, product advice, and returns processing.
Kukri’s commitment to global reach and local support has made it one of the leading bespoke sportswear specialists in the world. The company’s products and services are used by athletes and teams of all levels, from grassroots to elite. Kukri Sports is also a trusted partner of many educational institutions, professional teams and national governing bodies around the world, including Dubai College, England Athletics, Hong Kong China Men & Women, Team Canada and Waikato Rugby, plus many more.
Here are some examples of how Kukri’s level of support benefits its customers:
A professional rugby team in England can use Kukri Sports to design and produce a bespoke kit that meets the specific needs of the team and its players. Kukri’s team of designers and developers will work with the team to create a kit that is both stylish and functional. The local office in England will then oversee the production and delivery of the kit, ensuring that it is delivered on time and to budget.
A school in Australia can use Kukri Sports to order bespoke sportswear and leisurewear for its students. The businesses local office in Australia will work with the school to select the right products and to ensure that the sportswear is delivered on time and to budget.
A national governing body in Canada can use Kukri Sports to produce a custom kit for its national team. Kukri’s team of designers and developers will work with the national governing body to create a kit that is both stylish and functional. Kukri Sports’ local office in Canada will then oversee the production and delivery of the kit, ensuring that it is delivered on time and to budget.
Kukri Sports’ global reach and local support make it a unique and valuable partner for athletes, teams, educational institutions, and national governing bodies all over the world.
Rugby in Focus: Our Historic Partnership With Ulster Rugby
Ireland
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.
Every Kit Has A Story…
United Kingdom
At Kukri Sports we believe that it is not only important to design modern, creative kit, but also take true inspiration from our partners’ history, ethos and values and build that vision into every one of our designs.
We wanted to showcase the extra thought and detail that go into some of our iconic kit designs as everything is not always as it seems and many of these extra details are not obvious to the naked eye but are part of the athlete stories and the rich history of the teams who wear them. So welcome to our new series of kit stories revealing the inspiration and attention to detail behind some of our most well-known designs.
Over the coming weeks we will be showcasing the stories behind some of our most iconic kit designs.
If you would like to learn more about any of our designs or are interested in how Kukri can help you with your sportswear and leisurewear contact us.
British Gymnastics
British Gymnastics is the sport’s governing body for gymnastics and Trampolining in the UK.
Since the partnership began in 2021 Kukri have and continue to provide bespoke leisure, podium and training wear for all performance programmes, National Teams and squads.
Inspiration
While collaborating closely with the client, the Kukri Design team identified three distinct ability levels within British Gymnastics that needed to be emphasized in their kit designs: Pathway, Junior, and Senior.
The central design theme for British sporting teams revolves around the Union Jack Flag. Keeping this in mind, the team aimed to create sportswear designs that incorporated this iconic element.
As athletes progress through the various levels, the prominence of the Union Jack on the kit evolves accordingly:
Pathway:
This represents the lowest discipline level.
The kit features a subtle tonal Union Jack on the side panel, designed not to be overly conspicuous.
Junior:
Athletes at the Junior level showcase their affiliation with a Union Jack displayed prominently on the front panel.
To maintain harmony with the base fabric colour, the Union Jack is rendered in a tonal shade.
Additionally, each sleeve is accented with contrasting colour mesh binding to introduce a touch of vibrancy.
Senior:
At the Senior level, the Union Jack on the kit’s front panel takes centre stage, making it the most prominent design element.
Similar to the Junior design, contrasting colour mesh binding adorns each sleeve to infuse more colour and energy into the overall design.
Rugby School
Located in Warwickshire, England, Rugby School are one of the most prestigious education establishments in the world and is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain (founded in 1567). To learn more about Rugby School visit www.rugbyschool.co.uk
Kukri recently announced a 10 year extension of their partnership with the school, where they offer a full range of bespoke sportswear for staff and pupils, both on and off field.
The Inspiration
At Rugby School they have a motto ‘The Whole Person, The Whole Point – Made Whole By Experience’.
This motto emphasizes the genuine aim of the school: equipping students with the skills, knowledge, assistance, and exposure necessary to transform them from a state of partial readiness for the broader world into fully developed individuals – Find out more.
Considering this information, the design team at Kukri Sports collaborated closely with the school to create a collection of customized sportswear that exemplified their goal for the students – to nurture a sense of completeness through their journey at the institution.
These designs incorporated patterns symbolizing the fundamental elements, or interconnected jigsaw pieces, forming a complete individual.
Everyone at Kukri takes great pride in seeing students wearing the kit, with full appreciation of the thought that has gone into the designs.
Yorkshire Vikings and the Northern Diamonds T20 Shirts – 2023
Directly affiliated with Yorkshire CCC, the most successful cricketing team in England, the Yorkshire Vikings are the clubs limited overs team, who compete in the T20 Blast competition each year.
The Northern Diamonds, a professional women’s cricket team, proudly represents Yorkshire and the North East. In 2022, they achieved their inaugural accolade by winning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Lord’s.
The Inspiration
Working closely with Yorkshire Vikings and Northern Diamonds Kukri designed their latest T20 shirt designs for the 2023 season, These designs draw inspiration from and celebrate the rich regional cricketing heritage throughout the county.
Yorkshire and the surrounding northern counties have a strong cricketing history which dates back centuries and the region has been a hub for cricket development in recent years. Cricket has a deep cultural significance in the North and the sport is woven into the fabric of the counties identity making it a point of pride for the residents, especially in Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Vikings’ kit design pays homage to the 632 clubs affiliated with the Yorkshire Cricket Board, representing the diverse cricketing community across Yorkshire. On the other hand, the Northern Diamonds’ kit design incorporates all affiliated clubs that have a women’s and/or girls’ section, encompassing Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. This nod to the cricketing community in the north and significantly Yorkshire is in keeping with our brand values which include being supportive, accessible and inclusive to everyone from grassroots players through to elite athletes. The ability to produce so many world class cricketers make Yorkshire one of the greatest counties in English cricket and we are proud to see so many clubs represented on the field by these two top flight teams.
This combination of unique and inspirational design, historical cricketing legacy and tradition, top flight players and the passion of the fans will collectively ensure Yorkshire’s enduring prominence in the world of cricket.
Team England
Commonwealth Games England leads and manages the participation of Team England, at the Commonwealth Games working closely with each sport’s National Governing Body, their funding partner Sport England, and the Games’ Organising Committee.
As the official kit provider for Team England at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, our main objective was to craft kit designs that captured the pride and honour of representing your country whilst authentically representing the nation and drawing inspiration from the host city.
Although the colour palette predominantly drew from the traditional red and white of the St George’s Cross, the design concepts evolved over time and displayed meticulous attention to detail. Our design team conducted thorough extensive research in Birmingham to find sources of inspiration that could be seamlessly incorporated into the kit designs.
The Cube, one of Birmingham’s most iconic buildings, had a profound impact on the designs. It’s adorned structure, with various sizes of crosses, perfectly complemented the St George’s cross, which became a significant element of the designs.
Our quest for inspiration didn’t end there; the team also explored Centenary Square, which is home to Baskerville House, named after the renowned typographer John Baskerville. This visit sparked the idea to utilize the elegant Baskerville font across many of the kit designs.
Hidden Gold
To encourage the already strong aspirations for a place on the podium and a gold medal winning performance, a closer inspection of the kit and podium wear, highlights how often gold features throughout the designs, whether it be the trim, stitching, the drawcord or even zippers.
Concealed Medal Pocket
Among our collection of kit designs showcased at the games, the Ceremonial Track Top stood out as one of the most recognized and distinguished pieces. This exceptional track top not only boasts numerous golden details but also includes a discreet hidden internal pocket, thoughtfully designed to securely hold the prized medals of the winning athletes.
Many of the kits created for The Commonwealth Games in 2022 are now being proudly worn by the next generation of Team England athletes at this month’s Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago. As you watch the athletes compete, see if you can spot the myriad of hidden details within the kit designs, from our unique gold text over concealed zips to the subtle crosses woven into the fabric.
We wish all of Team England young athletes a successful and enjoyable games.
England Athletics
England Athletics is the governing body for the sport of athletics in England. They are a not-for-profit membership and development body for grassroots athletics and running in England.
The Inspiration
We worked closely with England Athletics to interpret their needs and wants and to develop a truly iconic design that represents both club and country.
When brainstorming creative ideas that could influence the England Athletic kit designs the team at Kukri explored many different avenues and a concept was formulated which took direct inspiration from iconic shots of winning athletes at the end of a race holding a St George’s flag draped across their shoulders. This concept led to the modern interpretation of the St George’s Cross draped over the left side of the garment, so every athlete has a graphic representation of their country on display and over their heart while competing, spurring them on to glory and to be the best they can be.
It fills the team at Kukri with great pride when we see England Athletes competing in Kukri sportswear, which we hope will lead to many more victorious flag celebrations at the end of future competitions.
England Athletics currently support 1,650 affiliated clubs and organizations covering track, field, road running, fell, hill, trail, and cross-country clubs. With over 140,000 registered athletes, 30,000 licensed coaches and 5,450 officials. Since 2019 Kukri Sports have been the official kit supplier for England’s representative teams and England Athletics Masters, whilst offering a range for coaches, staff and technical officials, plus an extensive range of branded merchandise.
A match made in Barbados
World News
Whilst Kukri Sports are renowned for providing sportswear for professional and international competitors, a recent partnership with the Barbados Olympic Association has seen an exciting new chapter, with designs created to reflect the flamboyant colours of the nation.
Barbados’ distinctive national colours of Blue and Gold represent the sea, sky and sands of the island and it was important that these featured heavily in the designs.
On receiving the designs Gail Craig Archer from the Barbados Olympic Association explains, “The pieces this year were an exceptional hit. The colours were vibrant especially when we paraded we stood out with the blend of blue and gold. The podium jackets were a statement piece and looked really good on the Parade even under lights.
2023 saw Barbados competing in the recently concluded CAC Games El Salvador and Dominican Republic and the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. In the CAC Games we came home with 9 medals overall.
2 Gold – Chelsea Tuach and Shane Brathwaite, 2 Silver medals Michelle Elliot and Mens 4 x 400m Hurdle team, Bronze, Jabali Breedy, Amber Joseph Cycling, Matthew Wright Triathlon, Roberta Foster Dressage and the Women’s Hockey Team.”
On the partnership as a whole Jamie Williams, Vice President – North America at Kukri Sports said “Kukri have partnered with Team Barbados in a variety of capacities since 2018, providing apparel for games such as Commonwealth, CAC, ANOC and Pan Am. The relationship has gown during this time and seen other National bodies in Barbados use Kukri as their apparel provider, something we are very proud of. In 2023 Kukri presented a brand new look and feel to Team Barbados which was an instant hit with their own athletes and even athletes from other countries, determined to get their hands on the Barbados Kit! We look forward to helping Team Barbados showcase their iconic colours and identity at future multi-sport games.”
Earlier this summer the nation competed at the Central American & Caribbean Games, where the team recorded their best medal result since 2010, which included 2 Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze Medals.
The team will also be competing at the upcoming Parapan American Games in November, everyone at Kukri Sports wishes the team the greatest success!
Team Canada & Kukri Sports – A Partnership Built on Success
Canada
As the organization responsible for overseeing the Commonwealth sports activities in Canada, Commonwealth Sport Canada (CSC) has collaborated with Kukri Sports since the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Brisbane. For both the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games Kukri has supplied clothing for not only the Opening and Closing Ceremonies but also podium attire and delegation apparel
During the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham Team Canada recorded some fantastic successes, in total the team amassed a total of 149 medals including 40 gold.
CEO of CGAC Brian MacPherson recalls “For everyone associated to Team Canada we took great pride in the successes of all our sport teams taking part, but a particular highlight of the games was when all four Canada Teams won medals in the 3×3 Basketball tournaments – there was a terrific atmosphere at the venue, and it was a privilege to be there.”
Successes for Team Canada continued in 2023 as they took part in the Trinbago Commonwealth Youth Games, which took place on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Team Canada won a total of 17 medals, including 4 golds.
MacPherson also recalls the successes of the Youth Games, “The Trinbago Games was another fantastic event for everyone associated with Team Canada, whilst everyone taking part made the country proud the highlight for me was when both the Men’s and Women’s teams won gold in the Beach Volleyball events. However, a special mention should also be given to out Women’s Rugby and Netball teams for doing so well despite having very little preparation time together before the games.”
What has Team Canada’s partnership with Kukri Sports been like over the last 2 cycles?
“For Team Canada athletes the clothing is the ‘wrapping’ on the whole Games experience. As such it’s important that the clothing be comfortable, stylish and proudly Canadian!
Kukri understands this and by listening to our athlete’s opinions, combined with their attention to detail, the team have delivered for every one of our teams at the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Youth Games!
Commonwealth Sport Canada is proud and privileged to have Kukri as its official apparel partner.”Brian MacPherson – CEO, Commonwealth Games Association of Canada.
Kukri Sports’ Vice President – North America, Jamie Williams, commented; “2022/23 was our 2nd games cycle partnering with Team Canada for both the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and then the Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
Just like in 2018 the relationship has been fantastic. We were on site in Birmingham during the games, which gave us a unique perspective and an opportunity to obtain valuable feedback from both staff and athletes, all of which was very positive. Being part of the opening ceremony was a real highlight and a fitting way to see 3 years’ worth of planning come to fruition.”
Commonwealth Sport Canada is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada. CSC supports Canada’s athletes to achieve excellence at Olympic and Paralympic Games and world championships, enriches the lives of youth across the Commonwealth and hosts the Commonwealth Games. Visit www.commonwealthsport.ca for information.
From grassroots through to international competitors Kukri Sports offer a wide range bespoke teamwear for over 100 different sports. To find out how we could help you – Get In Touch
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