The Wales senior squad have kept themselves hydrated with PAS Pro Iso products for the duration of the 2014 RBS 6 Nations campaign and this new agreement ensures that the senior team, as well as Wales’ age grade and sevens squads, will continue to be supplied with the newly formulated hydration drinks for the foreseeable future.
The Pro Iso drinks are formulated by the Wales national squad’s own nutritionist Jon Williams. Jon set up the company Pro Athlete Supplementation in 2006 to provide athletes with batch screened, research driven sports nutrition.
His new formula, which is unique in its electrolyte content, due to the higher potassium and lower sodium recipe and dual source of carbohydrates provides improved energy delivery during exercise and hydration.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to say Pro Iso is now the chosen drink of the Welsh senior rugby team as they build towards the Rugby World Cup,” said Williams.
“We worked long and hard on developing the taste for use during elite level sport and have listened to direct feedback from players with regard to reducing the sweetness which can be found in some drinks and which can be hard to consume during game time.
“Pro Iso is much lighter to drink while still delivering the same carbohydrate level found in isotonic formulas.
“Isotonic drinks are developed to provide energy and hydration during exercise or to help refuel and rehydrate after exercise.
“We do not recommend use of Pro Iso outside of these times and in all WRU nutrition education we ensure this message is given to young players and parents, with water being the best choice for hydrating outside of training and games.”
Wales captain Sam Warburton, pictured with the rest of the squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, said: “The squad welcome the news that Jon has come on board with the WRU as our official supplier, the drinks achieve exactly what Jon has set out to do and we are all really pleased with them.”
James Hook, who also features in the matchday 23 this weekend, is an ambassador and advocate of the Pro Iso formula, he said: “It’s probably a matter of personal taste, but I’ve certainly found that it can sometimes be difficult to drink some isotonic drinks in the volume you need to during a game, because of the sweetness aspect or taste.
“We all have the option of water as well, but it has been great to be able to take on this Pro Iso formula in higher volumes, knowing that it has that electrolyte and carbohydrate content that you need as well.
“I think Jon and his team have hit on a winning formula here and we are all extremely pleased they are on board with the WRU.”
Currently the drink is only available for use by the Welsh team as well as the age grades and sevens sides, but it is intended to be launched nationwide later in the year.
“The key aspect of this deal with Pro Iso is that we have a product, available to the national squad and all our age grade and sevens sides, which has been developed out there in the field and which we know works,” said WRU Group head of sales and marketing, Craig Maxwell.
“The players and our elite backroom staff tell us that this is the product to go with and the WRU are extremely pleased to welcome PAS Pro Iso on board as an official supplier.”
