New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is taking a bold step in response to claims that Ineos, the petrochemicals giant owned by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has failed to honor a major sponsorship agreement.
This legal move comes after accusations that Ineos refused to pay a scheduled instalment on a six-year deal and is now attempting to exit the agreement three years early.
Dispute Over Sponsorship Deal
The disagreement centers around a sponsorship deal signed in 2021, which made Ineos the All Blacks’ official performance partner.
The deal, reportedly worth about £3.65 million annually, has now been jeopardized.
NZR’s statement makes it clear that they had no choice but to take legal action to protect their commercial interests after Ineos reportedly failed to pay the first instalment for 2025 and decided to walk away from the deal prematurely.
Ineos’ Financial Moves and the Impact on Rugby
Ineos has been involved in various business adjustments recently, including major changes at Manchester United. In December, Ratcliffe increased his stake in United to just under 29%.
Over the past year, Ineos has introduced several cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, aiming to improve the club’s financial position and increase investment in the team.
Despite this, the fallout from their sponsorship decision with NZR could be a blow to their overall portfolio, which has also seen a split with Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup team.
NZR Seeks New Sponsors
As the legal battle unfolds, NZR is actively seeking new commercial partnerships.
Their statement emphasized that interest in the All Blacks and their other teams remains strong globally, and the organization is committed to maintaining a world-class presence both on and off the field.
For now, NZR plans to remove Ineos branding from the All Blacks jerseys as they move forward with securing new backing.
Ineos has been approached for comment on the matter, but there has been no response yet.
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