By Gary Anderson

January 28 - Sportswear firm Canterbury of New Zealand will become official kit supplier to the IRFU from September this year ©CanterburyThe Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has announced the signing of a new six-year kit deal with sportswear brand Canterbury of New Zealand which will take in the World Cups in 2015 and 2019.


The deal is believed to be worth around €20 million (£16.5 million/$27 million) over the period up until 2020 and will come as a welcome boost to the IRFU after it has recently been forced to offer big contracts to the likes of Ireland team vice-captain Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien in order to keep them playing at home and not be tempted by lucrative moves to France and follow in the footsteps of out-half Jonathan Sexton, who joined Toulon last year.

The new agreement is due to begin on September 1 and the Irish team will wear the new Canterbury kits for the first time when they face South Africa in the first autumn international fixture at the Aviva Stadium on November 8.

The deal covers all match day, training and bench wear for the national squad as well as all junior and underage teams, including the Irish Wolfhounds and the Ireland under-20s, as well as the women's national side also.

Canterbury were official kit suppliers to the IRFU from 2000 to 2009 before the Union signed a deal with Puma ©AFP/Getty ImagesCanterbury were official kit suppliers to the IRFU from 2000 to 2009 before the Union signed a deal with Puma ©AFP/Getty Images
























Current kit suppliers Puma announced last January that they were pulling out of a €40 million (£33 million/$54.6 million) eight-year deal with the IRFU signed in 2009, as part of an overall global strategy to exit the rugby market.

The Ireland team will continue to wear the Puma kit for the duration of the Six Nations Championship which is due to get underway this weekend.

The IRFU has revealed that the three home games against Scotland, Italy and Wales have sold out meaning total ticket sales of 155,000.

"I'd like to welcome Canterbury into the Irish rugby family as we journey towards the 2015 Rugby World Cup," said IRFU President Pat Fitzgerald.

"Having the backing of the world's top rugby apparel brand is testament to the strength of the Irish rugby brand and reflects positively on the progressive steps being taken to ensure that we cement our position at the top of world rugby."

Established in 1904, Canterbury has been synonymous with the game of rugby and is also the current kit supplier for England, Russia, Spain, Japan and the United States.

"In the IRFU we have found a partner with shared values, a shared heritage and a shared focus and ambition to succeed at the pinnacle of our disciplines," said Canterbury chief executive Chris Stephenson.

"These mutual traits were paramount in our decision to join forces and share in what we believe will be a truly exciting journey for Irish rugby, most particularly the supporters, and Canterbury through the next two Rugby World Cups."

Jamie Heaslip recently signed a contract with the IRFU which is believed to make him the country's highest paid player ©Getty Images Jamie Heaslip recently signed a contract with the IRFU which is believed to make him the country's highest paid player ©Getty Images


















































Prior to the Puma deal, Canterbury were the official kit supplier to the IRFU from 2000 to 2009 and Ireland head coach, Joe Schmidt has welcomed the new partnership.

"I'm delighted to have Canterbury partnering with Ireland in our upcoming World Cup cycle," said Schmidt.

"I've worked with Canterbury in the past and have always been impressed by the quality and innovation they bring to the table."

Official Canterbury IRFU merchandise will be sold through all major sports retailers and online from autumn 2014.

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