Tag: World News

25/03/202419/03/2024

As a leading bespoke sportswear provider for the last 25 years, Kukri Sports is embarking on an exciting journey of expansion into new territories, including Saudi Arabia, China and South Africa. With a strong presence already established in Canada, Ireland, the UK, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, Kukri is well-equipped to extend its global reach and offer unparalleled support to athletes, clubs, and educational providers in these dynamic regions.

In regions like Saudi Arabia, where sports participation is experiencing significant growth and diversification, Kukri’ expansion promises to meet the rising demand for high-quality sportswear. By offering personalized design consultations, efficient logistics, and distribution channels, Kukri ensures that athletes in Saudi Arabia have access to apparel that not only meets their performance needs but also reflects their unique identity and aspirations.

Similarly, in South Africa, a country renowned for its passionate sports culture and rich sporting heritage, Kukri’s entry into the market opens doors for local clubs and schools to access world-class sportswear solutions. By understanding the specific challenges and aspirations of the South African sporting community, Kukri Sports is well-positioned to provide tailored support that facilitates growth and success at all levels of the sports ecosystem.

“I am thrilled by Kukri Sports’ expansion into Saudi Arabia, China and South Africa. Our commitment to excellence and passion for empowering athletes transcend borders, and we are excited to bring our top-quality sportswear and unwavering support to these dynamic regions, fostering growth and success at every level of the sporting community.” – Andrew Ronnie, CEO of Kukri Sports

As Kukri Sports continues to push boundaries and expand its reach into new frontiers, one thing remains constant: their unwavering dedication to excellence and their belief in the transformative power of sport. In Saudi Arabia, China, South Africa, and beyond, Kukri Sports is not just outfitting athletes; they’re shaping the future of sports and inspiring a new generation of champions across continents.

14/03/202414/03/2024

In the dynamic world of sports, psychology plays a pivotal role in shaping athletes’ performance and mindset. Understanding this fundamental connection, Kukri Sports recognises that sportswear isn’t just about style; it’s a strategic tool that empowers athletes to excel in their sport.

Partnering with prestigious institutions such as the Hong Kong Sevens, we provide elite sportswear that elevates performance and fosters team spirit.

Athletes are not just physical entities; their mental state significantly influences their performance. From motivation and application to resilience and determination, psychology underpins every aspect of athletic achievement.

Sportswear is more than just clothing; it’s a symbol of pride, togetherness and identity that each individual represents. The right sportswear provides athletes with comfort, enabling them to perform at their peak in their sport.

At Kukri, we meticulously integrate psychological principles into the design and production of our partner’s kits. Each garment is crafted with precision to enhance performance, boost confidence and enhance team unity, ensuring that athletes feel empowered both mentally and physically when stepping out onto the pitch.

Our latest design for Loughborough Lightning Netball team’s new dress incorporates a sense of pride, championing their 2023 Netball Super League triumph by adding an additional lightning bolt which represents how many titles they have won to date.

This design fills them with pride, celebrating their hard-won achievements. It reminds them of the journey they’ve taken, with its highs and lows, to reach greatness.

Victoria Burgess, Head Coach at Loughborough Lightning Netball Team, explained, “Kukri is a fantastic brand that consistently plays a huge part in our performances each season. The pride the athletes feel when putting on the Lightning dress is inspiring, and their focus on producing the best apparel for our athletes is vital, the design and comfort of the dresses plays a critical part in us allowing to produce consistent performances.“

Through our ongoing exploration of sports psychology, Kukri remains committed to empowering athletes to conquer challenges and achieve greatness.

Ready to unlock your full potential? Join the ranks of athletes who trust us to elevate their performance. Contact us today to discover how our sportswear can fuel your success.

08/03/202414/03/2024

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Kukri Sports reaffirms its commitment to empowering and supporting women in sports.

With a proud history of supporting female athletes across multiple sports for 25 years, Kukri recognises the vital role women play in driving innovation, leadership and excellence in the sporting world.

International Women’s Day serves as a poignant reminder of the progress made towards gender equality. Kukri recognises the importance of creating a level playing field for women in sport, with the hope that creating innovative designs will inspire the next generation of female athletes.

In line with its commitment to women in sport, Kukri has undertaken various initiatives to support and empower female athletes, including:

Sponsorship & Partnership:

As a leading sportswear supplier, Kukri continues to extend its reach across multiple sports, from England Lacrosse to UBC Women’s Rugby team based in Vancouver, Canada.

Kukri is also extending its offer beyond supply elite sportswear, helping to provide support for athletes in their wider development. This is shown through our long-standing partnership with Pegasus Hockey Club, one of the most successful clubs in the history of Irish Hockey.

In our partnership with the all-Women’s club, over 5,000 kits have been meticulously crafted for peak performance and have inspired countless players, some of which have gone on to triumph at international level.

Read more about the partnership.

Customised Sportswear:

From elite athletes to grassroots, Kukri ensures that women have access to sportswear that enhances their performance and confidence on and off the field.

Every kit has a story, from Rugby School’s interconnected jigsaw pieces forming a complete individual wearing the kit, to featuring all affiliated clubs with the Yorkshire Cricket Board that have a women’s and/or girls’ section on Northern Diamonds’ T20 Vitality Blast shirt design.

Scholarship Fund Contributions:

Kukri has also invested in scholarship funds for several of its partner universities, helping students to pursue and achieve their performance related goals in their selected sports.

At Worcester University, over 61 students are benefitting from the scholarship, including second year Sport and Exercise Student, Niamh Williams, who has gone on to represent England U20’s rugby team.

Supporting Athletes’ Performance:

Kukri is also involved in various initiatives with partners to support athletes’ performance, such as providing philanthropic funding for Loughborough University to support their joint study with West Ham United women’s team.

This three-year study aims to make a tangible contribution to women’s sport by investigating the performance characteristics of female footballers from youth age to first-team level.

Read more about the groundbreaking study here.

“We’re all incredibly proud of the unique sporting ecosystem at Loughborough University that undoubtedly contributes to women’s sport“, said Richard Wheater, Director of Sport at Loughborough University.

“Our partnership with Kurki Sports plays a key role in this vision and we’re thrilled to be working collaboratively as women’s sport continues to flourish.”

“At Kukri, we firmly believe that every athlete, regardless of gender, deserves equal opportunities to succeed. We are fully committed to not just supplying elite kit across multiple sports, but also offering support through other empowering initiatives that will enable women to thrive and showcase their talents.” – Andrew Ronnie, Group CEO at Kukri Sports.

Kukri reaffirms its commitment to empowering women in sport and driving positive change within the sporting landscape. By consistently advocating and offering our support, our commitment persists in shaping a future where women enjoy equal opportunities to excel in their chosen sport.

 For more information on how we can help you, get in touch.

08/01/202413/03/2024

In a significant strategic move, Kukri Sports has been acquired by the businesses Group CEO Andrew Ronnie, marking a new era for the renowned sportswear brand. This management buyout sees Andrew Ronnie taking the reins from the previous majority shareholders.

With a commitment to encouraging growth and innovation, this transition is poised to usher in a bright and promising future for Kukri Sports. The buyout ensures a seamless continuity for the brand’s esteemed partners, while also paving the way for new opportunities and pioneering initiatives in the bespoke sportswear market.

Kuits Solicitors, played an instrumental role in overseeing the legal aspects of the sale, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition of ownership.

NatWest bank have provided financial assistance, aiding the transition and are committed to support the business with its future endeavours.

Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Ronnie stated, “Acquiring Kukri Sports is a significant milestone in my journey. Having been with the business for many years I am deeply committed to building on the brand’s legacy and steering it towards a future filled with growth, innovation, and unparalleled quality. With the support of our partners and the dedication of our team, I am confident that Kukri Sports will continue to thrive and set new benchmarks in the industry.”

The management buyout underscores a strategic vision aimed at harnessing the brand’s potential, capitalizing on emerging market trends, and reinforcing Kukri Sports’ position as a leader in the Global bespoke sportswear market.

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.

09/11/202310/11/2023

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.

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.

23/10/202319/10/2023

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.

06/10/202316/10/2023

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!