The Altrad Group, which sells and hires out equipment for the building and construction industry, has agreed a deal to become the first jersey sponsor of the French national rugby union team, according to multiple reports.
Altrad Group chairman, Mohed Altrad, owns French Top 14 club Montpellier and the AFP news agency, citing a club source, confirmed the deal.
A press conference will reportedly take place in Paris on Tuesday to formally unveil the agreement between the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and Altrad Group.
The BFMTV.com website said Altrad’s deal will initially cover France’s next eight games, the final two fixtures in the Six Nations, a tour of South Africa and the November internationals. It added that the agreement will be worth between €8m ($8.5m) and €10m.
FFR vice-president Serge Simon in January revealed that the body was seeking to secure a first-ever shirt sponsor for its national team.
France is the only major rugby-playing nation in the world that does not have a shirt sponsor.