England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) governing body has today announced a new long-term kit supply deal with British sportswear brand Castore.
The deal makes Castore the official technical kit partner of the England Rugby national team.
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The Manchester-based company takes over from UK sportswear brand Umbro, whose deal was set to run until 2028.
Notably, Castore agreed a professional team sports sub-license deal with Umbro last year.
The deal was struck with Umbro licensee, GL Dameck, and the sub-license allows Castore to market the Umbro brand in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
The agreement means Castore is already marketing and supplying Umbro-branded kit for the RFU, but it needed to replace Umbro’s deal for its own branding to appear on the England national team shirts.
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By GlobalDataCastore will deliver all technical playing kit, training, and travel wear across England Rugby’s men’s and women’s teams.
The brand will also supply coaches and staff departments across the England Rugby set-up.
The agreement enhances Castore’s presence in English rugby union as it supplies kits to Premiership clubs Harlequins and Saracens.
Tom Beahon, co-CEO of Castore, said: “Partnering with England Rugby is a landmark moment for Castore. This partnership reflects our commitment to English rugby, as we continue investing in a sport that we see a bright future for.”
Umbro first secured the England Rugby kit contract in 2020, replacing Canterbury, which served as the RFU’s kit supplier between 2012 and 2020. Before that, the governing body had a 15-year agreement with Nike that ran from 1997 to 2012.
The RFU’s early decision to switch kit suppliers could be related to its well-publicised financial problems.
In November, the organisation announced an operating loss of £37.9 million ($50.5 million) during the 2023-24 financial year.
The RFU is seeking to significantly increase its commercial revenue. Last year, it agreed to a lucrative 10-year deal with global insurance firm Allianz for the naming rights to the iconic Twickenham Stadium.
The tie-up – representing the first time Twickenham has been renamed – is understood to be worth over £100 million.
