Connacht Rugby and Macron agree multi

Connacht Rugby have announced an agreement with sportswear brand Macron to become the club's official kit partner in a long-term, multi-year partnership.

The partnership will begin for 2023/24 and will see Macron become Connacht Rugby's official kit suppliers for all men's, women's and age grade teams.

The brand new Connacht Rugby home jersey – the first to be designed by Macron – will be revealed later this summer, with the away and European jerseys to follow later in the year.

Based in Bologna in Italy, Macron is one of the largest premier sports kit manufacturers in Europe, and supply apparel to numerous professional teams across a range of sports. They already have a strong presence in European rugby as official kit partner to the Scottish, Welsh and Italian Rugby Unions, and a number of teams in the BKT United Rugby Championship.

They also have a number of major clients in football, including Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, and a host of clubs in the English Football League.

Philip Patterson, head of commercial and marketing at Connacht Rugby, commented: "As the Connacht Rugby brand continues to grow, it was vital for us to find an official kit partner who can help us take that brand to the next level, during such a transformative period for the club. That's why I’m absolutely delighted that we have come to an agreement with Macron, who will produce all official Connacht Rugby apparel.

"We’ve been in discussions with Ross and his team in Italy for a number of months now and we’re incredibly excited by how our two organisations can creatively work together. The new Connacht Rugby jerseys, training wear and leisure wear will be a sure-fire hit with supporters when they start to hit the shelves, exclusively at Intersport Elverys, later this summer."

Ross Cook, senior sports marketing manager at Macron, added: "We are delighted to announce this partnership with Connacht Rugby, Macron's first Irish rugby club. Our leadership in rugby is growing stronger every day, and we are delighted to welcome Connacht Rugby to our large family.

"It is an agreement that involves a long journey together, and it is very exciting to work side by side with them. The intention is to develop match kits and apparel of high quality and technicality, as well as innovative designs and customised graphics, to best express the identity, colours and symbols of a club with 138 years of history."