Rhino Rugby – who have been official suppliers of Scrummage and Training Equipment to the WRU since 2005 – have committed to continue to support Welsh rugby until 2018.
At international level Rhino Rugby and the Wales national coaches are in close consultation about the equipment needs of the international players, with normal items like scrum machines, jackal and tackle bags on the agenda alongside some new designs.
“We didn’t have the kind of equipment Rhino are supplying in my playing days and it makes for a completely different and superior training experience,” said Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde, is also a former Wales and Scarlets hooker and British and Irish Lions tourist.
“The players can go through drills without going bone on bone and some of the more technical equipment like the Collision King, the Ruck Warrior and the Bulldog Sled have been specifically designed to suit the needs of the modern game.
“Rhino take great care to consult players and coaches and to study the game and that ensures that they end up with unique and specialist products to suit all levels of the sport.”
Already this season WRU Head of Rugby Josh Lewsey announced an initiative which saw 43 schools in Wales appoint full-time school-club hub officers and those schools have directly benefitted from equipment supplied by Rhino.
Rhino equipment has also been on offer at significantly reduced rates to each of the WRU’s member clubs via the governing body’s Participation Points scheme – thousands of items have already been ordered by clubs from pitch equipment to tackle bags and training gear, including 272 chrome whistle, 773 corner poles and 689 ‘hit shields’.
“Rhino rugby are the collision kings, nobody else can do what they do as well as they can do it,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis.
“The most important thing about Welsh rugby’s relationship with Rhino is that the players and the national coaches are happy with the specialist equipment they supply.
“If we have the right supplier at a national level, when we filter down the equipment and expertise to our age group sides and directly to grass roots rugby, we know we are reaching the right standards to enable our teams and rugby clubs to flourish in their training environments.”
Rhino Rugby has been a supplier to the Welsh Rugby Union for over nine years and both organisations are keen to see their relationship continue grow over the next four.
“We are working closely with the Wales national squad to make sure we meet all there training requirements with the kit we provide,” says Anthony Locke, Managing Director Rhino Rugby Ltd:
“Training techniques are constantly changing along with the way the game is played and we remain and innovative dynamic company at the cutting edge of design in terms of the equipment we are able to supply to national teams.
“But we also produce a staple diet of equipment which can enhance training and the matchdays at all levels of the game and we are extremely pleased to be able to announce a continued relationship with Welsh rugby will ensure that every need is catered for from grass roots to international level.”
