Canterbury has announced that it will once again be the official kit supplier for the 2021 British & Irish Lions as they head to South Africa to take on the world champion Springboks, and has also announced an innovative new kit programme for grass roots clubs that have brought through Lions players.
The Lions wore Canterbury for the first time in 50 years when they drew the 2017 series against New Zealand, and when Warren Gatland’s charges head south in 2021 they will once again be sporting the brand’s kit.
In addition to the kit renewal, however, the Lions have also launched the Lions Origin Club program – an innovative new scheme designed to honour the grass roots rugby clubs in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland that have produced players who have gone on to represent the Lions.
Each of these clubs will not only have the opportunity to have their kit designed and manufactured by Canterbury, but each of these kits will be personalised with the Lions Origin Club logo to celebrate the part they’ve played in producing a player that has gone on to reach the pinnacle of British & Irish rugby.
The first four clubs to receive this honour are Mosely Rugby Club, former club of Mike Teague; Buccaneers RFC, home club of Robbie Henshaw; Hawick RFC, home of Jim Renwick; and Trebanos RFC, the place where Justin Tipuric first got his start in rugby.
“Playing for the Lions and representing your country on the biggest stage is one of the
pinnacles of a player’s career and I was honoured to have played a part in the 2013 & 2017 tours,” said Canterbury ambassador Justin Tipuric ahead of the launch of the programme at Trebanos RFC this evening.
“Behind every player is a great support network of people who have helped them reach the very top and, for me, that starts with Trebanos where I started seriously playing rugby. It is fantastic that they can now display on their kit that they have helped to produce a Lions player. Hopefully, it will act as an inspiration for those players who will pull the jersey on and I would love to see another Lions player come from the club.”
The new British & Irish Lions 2021 kit is currently in the design process at Canterbury, and will be revealed next year.
Rugby Shirt Watch 