Gloucester Rugby has unveiled its home shirt ahead of the 2021-22 season and announced a new commercial partnership.
Shelving and racking company BiGDUG, which is based in the city, will replace Mitsubishi Motors as the Cherry and Whites' main partner for next season.
The company, which has already been sponsoring the club for year, will have its logo included on the front of Gloucester Rugby’s playing and replica kit.
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The kit features the traditional cherry and white hoops, with inspiration also drawn from the Gloucester city crest in the inclusion of chevrons, the club said.
The new shirt will also feature the line ‘Squad of Thousands’ under the collar - in a nod to the club's campaign during the pandemic - with the playing shirt including the names of fans who purchased a space as part of the campaign.
Lance Bradley, chief executive of Gloucester Rugby, said the partnership had come at a “crucial time” for the club.
“Today marks another exciting new chapter for Gloucester Rugby,” he said.
“Everything we’ve done this year has been with the local community in mind - whether that’s through offering job opportunities as part of the Kick Start scheme, investing in world-class facilities in the centre of the city, or simply sending messages to some of our longest serving fans.
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“The extended partnership with a prominent local brand, and the design of the new shirt, is the perfect opportunity to take that sentiment into the new season.”
Chris Reilly, managing director at BiGDUG, said the extension of the partnership was testament to the “strong relationship” the company had built with the club over the last year.
The business will also have its branding added to all Gloucester Rugby marketing material and on signs at Kingsholm including the Dugout and recently rebranded tunnel.
“To be aligned with such an iconic club and strong local brand is a privilege and the renewal of this relationship represents a new, exciting chapter for us to further strengthen our ties with the local area and Gloucester Rugby fans,” he said.
The kit has been designed and produced by Oxen, part of online sports retailer Elite Pro Sports Group.
Lee Jenkinson, chief executive of Elite Pro Sports, said the company wanted to strengthen the link between Gloucester Rugby and the city itself, while highlighting how important fans and partners are to the club through the Squad of Thousands campaign.
“We wanted to highlight that in the new kit and with Gloucester Rugby recently announcing the return of its training facilities to Gloucester, it seems like the perfect time to launch a shirt that celebrates both club and city," he added.
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In May, Gloucester Rugby’s chief operating officer Alex Brown told BusinessLive that finding a new main partner had been a goal for the past year.
The announcement comes just weeks after Gloucester Rugby announced a major long-term partnership with blister plaster firm Compeed for the stadium's stand - known as the 'Shed'.
The deal will see Compeed provide support to the team’s medical department and the Gloucester Rugby Foundation.
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