Munster Appoint Penney As Head Coach

Posted on May 2, 2012 in imb, Irish Rugby, Munster

Munster today announced the appointment of New Zealander Rob Penney as Head Coach, subject to him securing a valid work permit.

Penney has signed a two-year contract with the province  ahead of other candidates Anthony Foley and Tana Umaga.

Penney has been Head Coach of Canterbury since 2006, and last season took them to their fourth straight ITM Cup national provincial title. He also has Super Rugby coaching experience with the Crusaders where he was assistant coach in 2005 when they won the Super 12 title and he has maintained his involvement with the Crusaders as Development Squad Coach.

A former Canterbury Academy Manager, Penney will coach the defending World Champion New Zealand Under 20 side during next month’s IRB Junior World Championship in South Africa,and he is expected to arrive in Munster in mid July for the start of a two year contract.

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Tigers sign up with kit suppliers Canterbury

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 in English Rugby, Leicester, Leicester Tigers, Premiership

Canterbury, the world’s largest dedicated rugby brand, today announced that it has secured a long term partnership to become the official kit supplier to the Leicester Tigers.

Combining over a century of experience in producing the highest quality playing apparel with the English club’s proud 132 year history, the 3-year partnership brings together two brands with great rugby heritage and tradition.

The new deal will see Canterbury providing playing jerseys, training apparel, BaseLayer garments and off field clothing to the Tigers, a stalwart of European club rugby, having won nine English Premiership trophies, seven Anglo-Welsh Cups and two Heineken Cups.

Canterbury will work closely with the Tigers to champion the club’s ethos, incorporating its innovative design elements into the new kit to maximise performance and aid recovery.

Chris Stephenson, CEO of Canterbury, said:

“Associations with leading rugby teams around the world have played a key role in promoting Canterbury’s heritage within the game over the years. By joining up with the Leicester Tigers, a club that has enjoyed a rich and successful history, Canterbury is demonstrating a continued desire to work with the very best teams in the world. We are delighted with this partnership and we hope the fans look forward to our involvement with this great club.”

Simon Cohen, Leicester Tigers CEO, added:

“We are excited to partner with Canterbury, given their unrivalled experience of providing teams with the strongest, most technologically advanced kits available. Their recognised prowess and heritage in rugby is perfectly aligned with the Tigers’ culture and determination to remain at the top of European club rugby.  We would also like to thank Cotton Traders for their commitment to the club over the years.”

Today is the first opportunity for fans to purchase the Leicester Tigers Home Jersey by Pre-Order, whilst not yet seeing the shirt.

Rugby Football Union Signs Four Year Partnership with Canterbury

Posted on Mar 2, 2012 in England, England Saxons, England Students, England U20, England Women, English Rugby, RFU

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) today announced a long term partnership with Canterbury, the world’s leading rugby brand, to become their official kit partner.

The four year agreement will see Canterbury supplying kit to the England Senior, Saxons, Sevens, Women’s and age grade representative teams from September 2012 to beyond the Rugby World Cup in 2015.

The partnership brings together two brands with great rugby heritage and tradition, in addition to an unrivalled passion for the sport and its fans. For the RFU it also represents the largest kit partnership in the Union’s history, allowing continued investment into all levels of the game which is at the heart of the strategic focus for both organisations.

Sophie Goldschmidt, RFU Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted about this new partnership with Canterbury. The brand is recognised by players and fans alike and its heritage in rugby is unrivalled. The excellent quality of playing apparel Canterbury is famed for will also ensure the England teams have the best technical kit available to assist them on and off the pitch. This new exciting partnership will allow the Rugby Football Union to further invest in the game.”

Chris Stephenson, CEO of Canterbury, said: “The partnership with the Rugby Football Union is the perfect combination of two brands steeped in rugby history that rugby fans know and respect. We are excited at the prospect of developing this relationship and enhancing the awareness of rugby to a wider audience with the aim of increasing participation levels.

"With over a century of experience in producing the highest quality playing apparel, designed specifically to maximise performance, we pride ourselves on producing the strongest, most technologically advanced kits available.”

Romana Graham suspended for six weeks. Ban effective from 2012

Posted on Sep 6, 2011 in NZ

A judicial hearing into a head-butting incident during Saturday night’s ITM Cup Premiership Final in Hamilton, has resulted in a six-week suspension for Waikato lock Romana Graham.

The ban comes into effect at the start of the Chiefs’ Investec Super Rugby season.

Graham was cited under law 10.4 (a) for head-butting Canterbury fullback Sean Maitland in the 59^th minute of the game.  Canterbury won the Final 12 – 3.

During the tele-conference hearing, Judicial Officer Nigel Hampton QC considered video evidence, and evidence presented by the player and his representatives.

While Graham admitted the charge, Mr Hampton considered the offence to be in the mid-range of seriousness.

He handed down a six week ban to take effect from the Chiefs’ Investec Super Rugby 2012 pre-season campaign.  Graham is banned from playing all rugby up to and including Wednesday 14 March 2012 ruling him out of the Chiefs’ three pre-season Super Rugby matches, and their first three Investec Super Rugby season matches.

All Blacks Season Opener Set to be a Special Night

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 in NZ

The special nature of the All Blacks v Fiji Test for Canterbury is being acknowledged with some extra highlights both on and off the field.

With 51 days to go to Rugby World Cup 2011 this is the first opportunity to see the All Blacks in action this year. The season opening Test is also the anchor for a number of initiatives aimed at raising funds and showing support for the people of Canterbury following February’s devastating earthquake.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew said New Zealand Rugby and many of our partners have joined together to create some great initiatives aimed at supporting Canterbury’s continued rebuild.

“We will host some very special guests from Christchurch at the Test. Our ‘First XV’ were chosen from hundreds of nominees for deserving Cantabrians sent into the Christchurch Press.”

“After everything the people of Christchurch have been going through it’s a privilege to reward this group and their friends and partners with a night out and a first chance to see the All Blacks,” he said.

One excited pair is father and son, Damian and Sam Curtain, from Burwood. Damian nominated his rugby mad 11-year old because the earthquakes had disrupted their normal routine and they were missing their usual Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks games.

The proud coach of his son’s Shirley RFC Under 11 rugby team reckons Sam has been smiling for days about the trip and is excited about meeting some All Blacks legends.

Since the September earthquake forced St Paul’s to close Sam’s now attending his third school.

“You just work around a lot of things in this situation but it has been hard on the kids, who’re coping pretty good,” he added.

The evening’s entertainment includes Invercargill born and Christchurch raised singer Jason Kerrison performing his band OPSHOP’s tribute to his home city ‘Love Will Always Win’ and the number one hit ‘One Day’. All proceeds from the tribute single are going to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. He’ll be joined by 75 pupils from Balmacewen Intermediate School who will be flying the flag for Canterbury in a very special routine to unite the South Island in support of Canterbury.

Jason will also perform the New Zealand anthem while Pacific icon and international soloist Lapi Mariner will perform the Fijian Anthem.

Fans are encouraged to turn up by 6pm to catch the curtain raiser and cheer on six young South Island Rippa Rugby teams – including New Brighton and Burnside from Christchurch. Air New Zealand will be transporting the two Christchurch teams in their “Crazy About Rugby” campervans.  The Rippa Rugby action culminates in a final at approximately 7.05pm. 

Other initiatives to support Canterbury

 

• NZRU is donating all net profits from ticket sales to Canterbury recovery efforts, with the majority distributed through the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
  
• Donating some to the All Blacks official charities, Plunket and KidsCan
  
• Fans at Carisbrook and watching the game on television wishing to make a donation will be able to text 993 to donate $3