NRL’s Dragons sign kit partner, shirt sponsor

Australian NRL rugby league club the St George Illawarra Dragons has agreed a deal for sports apparel and footwear company XBlades to become its new kit supplier, while the team has also signed a shirt sponsorship deal with Westfund Health Insurance.

XBlades has signed a five-year deal, running from 2018 to 2022, to become the Dragons’ official apparel partner. The company will supply the team with official playing jerseys, shorts and socks, as well as training and off-field apparel.

XBlades has been working with the Dragons to improve the performance of the club’s apparel by trialling new Merino wool fabric technology.

“We're proud to be teaming up with the Dragons who align strongly with our brand values of innovating and developing technically enhanced products which can be seen through their willingness to embrace our Merino jersey trial,” XBlades Australia chief executive Leighton Richards said.

“XBlades’ ethos is athlete-led and product-driven therefore our products and technology will continue to evolve with the game as we strategically leverage our new networks to push the boundaries of innovation. We’ll continue to work together with the Dragons over the next few months to bring major developments across fabrics and design for apparel ready for 2018 and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Westfund Health Insurance has signed a three-year deal with the Dragons that will grant the company brand exposure on the sternum area of the team’s shirts. The deal is effective from 2018.

The not-for-profit health fund has a presence in 12 regional areas across New South Wales and Queensland, and is accessible nationally. Westfund chairman Howard Fisher said: “Partnering with the Dragons is a progressive opportunity for Westfund as we look to engage with our members in key areas including Wollongong and in the Central West of NSW.

“The affiliation will also provide Westfund greater opportunity to increase awareness of our business and to align with health-related initiatives to show we are more than just a health insurer. This relationship will also feed into Westfund’s community engagement strategy based around support of regional sport and in encouraging and developing our community relationships in alignment with health and wellbeing initiatives.”