IRFU to land €15m kit deal

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

The IRFU are in line for a multi-million euro windfall after agreeing a new sponsorship deal with Puma, believed to extend beyond the 2015 World Cup. The current contract with New Zealand company Canterbury expires at the end of this season but an agreement has already been struck with German sportswear company Puma.

This could net the IRFU as much as €15million in an inclusive deal incorporating the supply of on-field, training and leisure wear to Ireland's Senior, A and underage teams.[/b]

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...l-14200447.html

Woohoo, no more of those God awful Canterbury kits!

 

[An Tarbh]

good riddance, the current jersey is vile, hopefully they'll go back to the older colour as well.

 

[cyRil]

Yeah I used to love the purple and yellow polka dot Irish shirts.

 

[Bullitt]

Thank god for that - I doubt many people are fans of the generic Canterbury kits being used by nigh-on everyone. And as already said, maybe they'll start using a shade of green that is assosciated with Ireland also.

That said though, let's hope Puma don't make Ireland wear anything as ugly compared to what they did to the Quins RL kit;

 

[An Tarbh]

well they haven't done a bad job with the Bath jerseys, so here's hoping we get something similar.

 

[Fa'atau82]

More than likely to be like Samoa's shirt.

 

[MunsterMan]

My preference would be for a deal with Addidas and a jersey based on this

but anything is better than what we have now!

 

[dullonien]

Why was the shade of green changed? Surely the IRFU had control over aspects of the kit of that importance. Couldn't ever see the shade of Wales' scarlet red changed. Hope to see the original Irish green back next year then :good:

 

[An Tarbh]

The IRFU seem quite happy to whore themselves to the highest bidder.

 

[monkeypigeon]

It ain't whoring, it's business.

 

[An Tarbh]

that's what whore's call it as well.

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 25 2009, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

that's what whore's call it as well.[/b]

lmao

 

[Prestwick]

Puma has definitely improved in the last few seasons.

Bath are the Puma posters boys but back in 2006 their Puma jersies were more BARF than Bath to be honest. Absolutely hideous and schoolboy.

These days, they look awesome. I think the IRFU are onto a good thing here!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Isn't the present jersey the more traditional shade of green? I'll see if I can dig up a couple of pictures. Over time the colour of the jersey gradually lightened.

 

[An Tarbh]

don't think so, the current one is certainly darker than what we had throughout the 80s, 90s and prior to the last world cup.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 25 2009, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

don't think so, the current one is certainly darker than what we had throughout the 80s, 90s and prior to the last world cup.[/b]

It's certainly darker than the jerseys from the 90s and 00s but it's akin to the shirt worn on the 80s and before that:

http://www.irishrugby.ie/735_753.php

 

[An Tarbh]

it's still not the manky bottle green we have now though.

 

[durbutter]

Fluorescent green shamrocks all over the jersey. thats what we need.

 

[Macsen]

It went from dark green to bright green to back again.

 

[melon]

Is that Keeeeeeef Wood in that picture?

He should handle the designs of Ireland's new jersey....he'd make it manly.

I like noidsay's idea of the shamrocks. The base colour should be that darker green and adorning it should be hundreds of small shiny, fluorescent shamrocks!!!!

 

[monkeypigeon]

I like (Tom?) Keirnan's shade of green.

 

[An Tarbh]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ Feb 26 2009, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I like (Tom?) Keirnan's shade of green.[/b]

Kiernan's not there, it's Geoghegan beside Wood and Fitzgerald as far as I know

 

[shazbooger]

I think (or I hope) he was talking about the other picture in motion against France.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (melon @ Feb 26 2009, 12:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

The base colour should be that darker green and adorning it should be hundreds of small shiny, fluorescent shamrocks!!!![/b]

Love it. Fluorescent shamrocks that look like they are moving as the player runs..... like a swirling mass of chaos .......... Sure **** it. Lets add a family of ginger Leprechans screaming "top of the mornin to ya" and "be god and begorrah" while were at it

Someone should be able to photoshop this concept together.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 26 2009, 09:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Monkeypigeon @ Feb 26 2009, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I like (Tom?) Keirnan's shade of green.[/b]

Kiernan's not there, it's Geoghegan beside Wood and Fitzgerald as far as I know
[/b][/quote]
You're right. Willie John McBride is standing next to Fitzgerald.

 

[shazbooger]

THIS PICTURE! He was talking about THIS ONE!

 

[An Tarbh]

well that's Michael then.

 

[shazbooger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (An Tarbh @ Feb 26 2009, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

well that's Michael then.[/b]

lol oh yeah. Was too busy shouting I didnt notice. Sorry bout that

Anyhoo, I preferred the bright green one from the early 90's. Style was shite, but the colour was good.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Confirmed:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

http://www.irishrugby.ie/283_16685.php

The IRFU and Puma have agreed a new eight-year partnership deal, starting at the beginning of the 2009/10 season, that enables the leading sport lifestyle brand to become the official supplier and licensee of replica merchandise for Irish rugby.

Philip Browne, Chief Executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union, said: "The IRFU is delighted to enter into this relationship with Puma, an organisation, we feel, that not only understands rugby supporters but also has a proven track record in the sport. "As a truly global iconic brand, Puma is an ideal partner with the experience and ability to communicate with many consumer groups which we are confident will help us to secure the future of Irish rugby not only at the top level but right down into the grassroots of our game.

"With all of its proven technical experience, innovative product design and development and support systems, we are very excited about the future with Puma and we look forward to a very successful partnership."

Jochen Zeitz, chairman and CEO of Puma, was equally satisfied. He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Puma and we are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union - one of the world's leading rugby teams.

"Their global reach, passion, heritage and dynamism match the Puma brand perfectly.

"This long-term strategic partnership underlines Puma's reinforced commitment to further strengthen its position as one of the leading sport lifestyle brands."[/b]

 

[O'Rothlain]

Are we going to take bets on wether or not we get a collar? I've said it in other threads on this forum, but I don't see why they can't use the innovative fabrics and whatnot and still not look like tron. I own a few shirts in the new Canterbury Style, but I prefer the older stuff.
Let's hope puma don't f___ this up! Any clue as to when they'll announce and show the new shirts?

 

[roadtogundagai]

It will be interesting to see what they (Puma) come up with, especially as this will be their (Puma's) first foray into, forgive me Samoan fans, the big stage of international rugby union.
With the various photoshop ideas being banded around, it seems that most think it will look like either a variation of Samoa's, St Helens RL, or even Scotland's RL world cup shirt. The only problem with that, is that it seems that all of the above mentioned are now on special offer or sale priced, which would indicate that the designs are being changed for the next season.

I don't want to cast doubt on Puma before even getting a look at what they will offer in the way of style or what other range of stuff they will put out at probably inflated prices just before the November internationals, but does anybody remember the hype that surrounded the Wales Under Armour kit deal last year? If puma can produce a range of fan clothing and team wear similar to that of Under Armour then they will have done not a bad job. I just hope that they take into account the fact that not all followers of Irish rugby are ideal candidates for the skin tight shirt that seems to be popular with Puma at the minute, and at least have a nice "traditional" cotton supporters shirt alongside the skin tight one.