Scarlets record new kit deal

The Scarlets have announced that they have signed a record six-figure kit deal for the next four years with fast-emerging Swiss brand Burrda.

Burrda is a well-established sportswear supplier in the Middle East and is now expanding worldwide. The company has signed kit deals for the coming season with rugby’s Northampton Saints and football’s Premier League club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City and Watford and is the official supplier to the British Handball Association and several national football associations.

The new deal will see Burrda provide the Scarlets will all its official match day playing kit as well as all training clothing collections and other off-field apparel for the region’s Magners League, Heineken Cup and LV=Cup fixtures.

The deal includes all Scarlets kits, which will be available for sale from the Scarlets shop at Parc y Scarlets at the first home league fixture of the season – September 11^th v Connacht 3pm kick-off.

The Scarlets are only the second European club to secure a major deal with the fast-growing supplier as they introduce a brand new high quality rugby union kit range.

The innovative and eye-catching home and away kits for 2010/11 will be unveiled for the very first time at a kit launch event Parc y Scarlets next Thursday evening (August 12^th 6pm – 9pm) which is free to all supporters and will include a fashion show featuring Scarlets star players in the new kit.

The new-look away kit promises to surprise many and has been kept a closely-guarded secret. Scarlets bosses say that it will link to the region’s great heritage, with a bold, modern twist – which they hope supporters of all ages will enjoy wearing and be proud of.

Scarlets Commercial Director, Rupert Moon said:  “Burrda has ambitions to become one of the most recognised brands in the manufacture of sports kit worldwide and is investing heavily in heightening its brand awareness across rugby and football throughout Europe.  We are pleased to be at the forefront of this expansion with them and will be one of the first rugby brands to showcase its products in the UK and Europe.

“This is a record commercial deal for us.  Burrda offers high quality products and we promise the design will be eye-catching one for next season – we’re really pleased with it and look forward to unveiling it next week for the first time at our kit launch event.

“We are very excited by this new four-year partnership between the Scarlets and Burrda and hope the look and feel of the new kit will be something that both our players and our supporters will be inspired by.”

Charles Diab, Burrda’s General Manager, said: “Being associated with an iconic rugby brand and club like the Scarlets which has such a great tradition and heritage is something we’re very proud of.

“They have a great mix of established international players within their squad as well as emerging Wales players coming through their ranks. This makes it an exciting time for us to partner with them as they further their development and provide the stars of the future, while we look to enter more broadly into the UK sports market.

“Rugby is the third sport we have entered in the UK now which has quickly shown how serious we are about meeting our own challenge of becoming a leading sportswear brand here in the UK and globally within ten years.”

 More information on the new kit, all the special launch offers and when it will be available in store and for sale online will appear on the Scarlets website at www.scarlets.co.uk.