LOCAL rugby equipment company Rhino Rugby from Tavistock have signed a new contract with the England Rugby Union to supply training equipment for all their practice sessions over the next two years.
Scrum machines, tackle bags, contact shields and bright green tackle suits will be transported to all the six Nations grounds, such as Lansdowne Rd, Murrayfield, Stade de France, and the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, as well as England's home base in Surrey, so that the team can always train with their own equipment, wherever they are in the world.
This agreement will extend to overseas tours as well — North America next summer, followed by New Zealand in 2002.
This continues a liaison which has been operating for the past 10 years, but which was previously confined to providing equipment at their home base only.
Rhino have also manufactured Post Pads and corner flags, branded with the England Rose, to be fitted at any training ground which the squad may use.
The idea of this is to emphasise the England Rugby ethos — although that was severely tested during last week's disagreement with the RFU management.
l Adam Bridgewater of Tavistock RFC is pictured wearing the green tackle suit, alongside other training equipment when it was dispatched from the Rhino factory on the Westbridge Industrial Estate in time for the build up to the recent England v Australia match at Twickenham.