RHINO ENTERS THIRD YEAR AS SPONSOR OF RABODIRECT PRO12

Andy Irivine, Chairman of the RaboDirect PRO12, today launched this year’s competition in Belfast at the city’s Titanic Experience together with all 12 team captains. Representatives of Rhino Rugby Ireland and guests attended the event which also marked Rhino’s third consecutive year as a Sponsor of the competition. In addition to supplying the match balls for all games, we will also continue supply the referees and pitchside officials kit.
RaboDirect Pro12 Ball referee1
The RaboDirect PRO12 continues to go from strength to strength. The competition supplied 28 of the British & Irish Lions triumphant tour party in Australia and it now ranks in prestige and playing standards alongside the English Premiership and the French Top 14 tournaments.

Northern Ireland Tourism Minister Arlene Foster with the RaboDirect PRO12 trophy and the 12 team captains in Belfast

Northern Ireland Tourism Minister Arlene Foster with the RaboDirect PRO12 trophy and the 12 team captains in Belfast today

August 27, 2013

RHINO SUPPORTS HSBC LIONS LEGACY PROGRAMME

28-06-2013-legacy2As part of their overall Lions sponsorship and legacy programme HSBC have teamed up with Rhino Rugby to donate two full sets of Lions training equipment to support grassroots rugby in both Hong Kong and in Sydney. The set left in Hong Kong, which includes a top of the range Rhino Dictator scrum machine in addition to a full range of contact and training equipment, was used last week in a training session for students of Lingnan University conducted by Salom Yiu Kam-shing and Kwok Ka-chun of the Hong Kong national Sevens team who are currently contesting the IRB Sevens World Cup in Moscow. Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, HSBC, was delighted the locals were able to benefit from the training equipment and commented: “HSBC is the proud Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions, who are touring in Australia at the moment. The equipment we see here today has helped them as they worked towards the biggest moment in their sporting careers. We hope that our donation will also play a key part in the development of these youngsters’ rugby careers and their time with the Hong Kong team players this afternoon will inspire them to want to play rugby at a very high level.”

28-06-2013-legacy

June 28, 2013

RHINO RUGBY SPONSORS ISLAY BEACH RUGBY TOURNAMENT

Off the west coast of Scotland, the 10th staging of the unique Islay Beach Rugby tournament took place in front of the White Hart Hotel in Port Ellen, in glorious sunshine on Saturday 8th June. The event has traditionally enjoyed good weather and provides one of the social and sporting highlights of the Islay calendar. Over a thousand spectators gathered on the banking beside the beach to enjoy fearsome competition from twenty two men's and eight women's teams. Conditions were perfect as a prolonged spell of dry weather provided deep, soft, powdery sand. Whilst this meant it was utterly exhausting to play on, it probably accounted for the lower injury count this year which is always welcome. Billed as "Blood on the Beach", the spectacle of fast, furious, full contact rugby made for great entertainment.
Islay Beach Rugby tournament Islay Beach Rugby tournament
The winners of the 'Laddie Cup' were The Mercian Regiment who were making their first appearance at the tournament. Runners up were fellow debutants Garnoch. Last year's winners Kilchoman won the Plate, beating Oban in their final while the Bowl was taken home by Trinity who prevailed over Ardbeg. The Lassie Cup was won by Team 200 who were also joining us for the first time. They beat Melrose Ladies, a club that has been a long term supporter of Islay Beach Rugby and it should be noted that the standard of rugby played by the women was very high this year. The 'hits' have always been fierce but this time round some the of the passing and movement from both sides in the final were mesmerizingly fast.
Islay Beach Rugby tournament - The winning ladies Islay Beach Rugby tournament - the referees
The competition is sponsored by Bruichladdich Distillery and Rhino Rugby were the ball supplier and joint sponsor for the first time. Rhino Rugby MD, Anthony Locke said: "It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in such a well run and well attended event. Congratulations to the winners but also to all players for performing at the highest levels of sportsmanship despite the extremely physical nature of the contest. I'd like to thank everyone involved for making us feel so welcome on the island and to the organisers for putting together such a fantastic event."
Islay Beach Rugby tournament- The ball Islay Beach Rugby tournament
June 19, 2013

RHINO SPONSORED ‘CAGE RUGBY’ MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IN WALES

Rhino has for some time been a supporter of the efforts of Chris Chudleigh, who first conceived of the School of Hard Knocks TV programme, in his pioneering efforts to take rugby into new geographic and demographic areas. We were quick to sponsor Chris's new concept – 'Cage Rugby' – which can be set up quickly in urban areas and used to introduce kids off the street to the game. The format is also useful as a kind of rugby version of soccer's Futsal in its encouragement of close quarter skills and in particular in keeping the ball alive in contact situations. In December Chris staged his latest demo event at Newport Gwent Dragons Junior Academy. Cage Rugby is becoming seen by such entities as an extremely useful talent identification and development tool. The next event follows this month in Pill in Newport. Keep up the good work Chris.

Newport Gwent Academy players and coaches are introduced to Cage Rugby - equipped and sponsored by Rhino.

Newport Gwent Academy players and coaches are introduced to Cage Rugby - equipped and sponsored by Rhino.

January 03, 2013