Asics to replace Adidas at Stade Francais

Japanese sportswear manufacturer Asics has announced a kit deal with French Top 14 rugby union team Stade Francais.

The terms of the deal, under which Asics is set to end Adidas’ 10-year association with Stade Francais from July 2015, were not disclosed.

Asics supplies kits to the Australia and South Africa national teams and returns to Stade Francais having previously produced the club’s kit from 1993 to 1999.

“After the Wallabies and the Springboks at international level, Asics France had to contract with a big club in the land of rugby – that's done with this signature,” Didier Dreulle, chief executive and founder of Asics France, said according to the FranceBleu.fr website. “Stade Francais Paris will be the first French team sport club under contract with Asics since the creation of its subsidiary.”

Stade Francais, a 13-time French champion, sits third in the Top 14 table after 11 matches of the 2014-15 season.