Rugby chiefs 'concerned' at collapse of Glasgow Warriors kit supplier

Jul 16 2009 By Matthew Leslie

GLASGOW Warriors are on the hunt for a new kit supplier after sportswear company Canterbury folded its European operation.

The New Zealand-based outfit signed a four-year deal with the SRU worth £4million last year to kit out the Warriors and Scotland.

A statement on the website of administrators KPMG said: "All sponsorship contracts in Canterbury Europe Limited have been terminated as a result of the administration.

"The affected clubs will rank as unsecured creditors in relation to any amounts they were owed for the remainder of the contract."

SRU Director of Communications, Dominic McKay added: "Scottish rugby is concerned to hear of reports regarding Canterbury Europe.

"We are making immediate contact with the administrator KPMG to clarify the position. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time."

The collapse of Canterbury Europe comes at an awkward time for Glasgow Warriors who were not only due to unveil their new strip for the coming season this week, but had also secured a new shirt sponsor - management service outsourcers, RESPONSE.

Other rugby teams affected by the collapse of Canterbury Europe are Glasgow's Magners rivals and reigning Heineken Cup holders Leinster, Cardiff and English Premiership aces Wasps.

Meanwhile, the Magners League fixtures for the new season have been announced with the Warriors handed a tough opening tie with current champs Munster visiting Firhill on September 4. Llanelli Scarlets visit Glasgow a week later with the Warriors' first away fixture being at Newport on September 18.

The derby-double header sees Glasgow entertain Edinburgh on Boxing Day with New Year's Day being pencilled for the Murrayfield leg. The final game is at Llanelli on April 7. On the Munster opener boss Sean Lineen said: "It's fantastic. Playing the reigning champions at Firhill really focuses the mind.

"We lost against them last season at home with a fairly average performance so this is an opportunity for us to be totally and utterly focussed."