August 21, 2008
OUA ANNOUNCES NEW RUGBY PARTNERSHIP WITH GILBERT
HAMILTON, Ont. – With the opening of training camps for varsity rugby teams in preparation of the upcoming 2008-2009 season, Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced today the beginning of a three-year partnership with Gilbert Canada Inc. as the supplier of the official game ball of both men’s and women’s rugby.
The name Gilbert has been synonymous with the sport since the game’s creation at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England back in 1823. William Gilbert, who owned a boot and shoemakers shop beside the famous school, began creating balls for the sport since its infancy, beginning an odyssey that has lasted almost 200 years.
Today, the Gilbert ball is used for the greatest matches in international rugby, including every World Cup since 1995. The OUA will use the size 5 Gilbert Barbarian Match Play Rugby Ball, which is designed in part to provide outstanding performance in all weather conditions.
“Since our first ball in 1823 and the foremost popular ball since then, Gilbert is proud to partner with OUA as the official game and practice ball,” said Brian Mills, Sales & Marketing Manager and Ontario Territory Manager for Gilbert Canada Inc. “Gilbert Canada is proud to share its internationally renowned quality product with OUA that reflects the strength and quality of the OUA Women’s and Men’s Rugby programs in this agreement. We look forward to growing the sport of rugby in partnership with OUA, Gilbert Canada and our retail partners.”
“We want to give our student-athletes the best opportunity to excel on the pitch, and the Gilbert ball provides that,” added Ward Dilse, OUA Executive Director. “Gilbert is a world-class product, and by providing our players the best sporting equipment on the market, it allows them to perform at their highest level.”
OUA rugby season kicks off for the men on Sept. 5 when the Waterloo Warriors visit the Guelph Gryphons. The women get started on Sept. 10 with five games; Brock visits Laurier, Western battles McMaster, York scrums with Toronto, Guelph tackles Waterloo and Queen’s clashes with Trent.
Source: OUA Communications
The name Gilbert has been synonymous with the sport since the game’s creation at Rugby School in Warwickshire, England back in 1823. William Gilbert, who owned a boot and shoemakers shop beside the famous school, began creating balls for the sport since its infancy, beginning an odyssey that has lasted almost 200 years.
Today, the Gilbert ball is used for the greatest matches in international rugby, including every World Cup since 1995. The OUA will use the size 5 Gilbert Barbarian Match Play Rugby Ball, which is designed in part to provide outstanding performance in all weather conditions.
“Since our first ball in 1823 and the foremost popular ball since then, Gilbert is proud to partner with OUA as the official game and practice ball,” said Brian Mills, Sales & Marketing Manager and Ontario Territory Manager for Gilbert Canada Inc. “Gilbert Canada is proud to share its internationally renowned quality product with OUA that reflects the strength and quality of the OUA Women’s and Men’s Rugby programs in this agreement. We look forward to growing the sport of rugby in partnership with OUA, Gilbert Canada and our retail partners.”
“We want to give our student-athletes the best opportunity to excel on the pitch, and the Gilbert ball provides that,” added Ward Dilse, OUA Executive Director. “Gilbert is a world-class product, and by providing our players the best sporting equipment on the market, it allows them to perform at their highest level.”
OUA rugby season kicks off for the men on Sept. 5 when the Waterloo Warriors visit the Guelph Gryphons. The women get started on Sept. 10 with five games; Brock visits Laurier, Western battles McMaster, York scrums with Toronto, Guelph tackles Waterloo and Queen’s clashes with Trent.
Source: OUA Communications
