Scotland unveil 'multi-million pound' kit deal
The Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) announced Thursday the most valuable kit deal in its history, saying it had signed a "multi-million" pound agreement with Italian sportswear company Macron.
The four-year deal will also see Bologna-based Macron supply the strips for Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland's two professional rugby union clubs, as well as the test side's dark blue kit.
But the new arrangement will not start until the end of year internationals with Canterbury of New Zealand continuing to manufacture Scotland's matchday outfits for the forthcoming Six Nations.
"Macron are a hugely ambitious company and very strong in football," said SRU chief executive Mark Dodson. "But the thing that clinched it for us it that they want to make Scotland their flagship brand in the rugby market.
"This is a multi-million pound deal – the largest in the SRU's history – over four years, so we are delighted."
Among the team currently supplied by Macron are English Premier League football clubs Aston Villa and West Ham.
The SRU faced the prospect of financial collapse in 2005 but Dodson insisted the situation at Murrayfield had improved greatly in recent years.
"Right now, the SRU is in good health. We have shown a surplus each year that I've been here and we are reducing debt going forward. We are making cost reductions where sensible and now we are driving income."
Scotland begin the Six Nations away to England at Twickenham on February 2.
