All Golds unveil new look kit for 2016

The All Golds, the University of Gloucestershire’s professional rugby league team, launched their new look teamwear for the 2016 season at an event at the university’s Oxstalls campus last night (Tuesday, 19 January).

Rugby legend Phil Vickery’s sportswear company, Raging Bull Sportswear are the official kit supplier to the university-owned side and both parties have worked closely together to produce the fresh new look. The kit is being sponsored by accountancy, investment management and tax group, Smith & Williamson.

The home kit retains the university ‘blue and blue’ colours of dark blue and pale blue with dark blue shorts while the new away kit design harks back to the club’s spiritual New Zealand heritage with a broad white vee on a black shirt with black shorts and socks completing the look.

Dr Andy Pitchford, University of Gloucestershire Director of Sport and All Golds Chairman, said: “We are proud to launch fantastic new home and away kits that mix both our heritage with some of the latest performance fabrics. As well as kit suppliers Raging Bull, we are delighted to also announce financial services firm Smith & Williamson as our new headline sponsor for 2016.”

“We must also express our thanks to our longstanding sponsors including Craig Paul Design, Ladbrokes and new hotel partner, Holiday Inn Express, all of whom help us achieve success on and off the pitch.”

The new kit will be worn for the first time in the All Golds’ first game of the new season in the iPro Sport Cup first round away against Coventry Bears on Sunday 21 February.

Commenting on the sportswear partnership, now in its second year, Lionel Hurst, President of the All Golds, said: “Raging Bull ticks all our boxes as an established sportswear supplier that continues to meet the diverse and exacting needs of our club. We are very impressed with the performance and quality of the kit, and being associated with the brand’s rich sporting heritage and strong British personality is also a big positive.”

Andy Deacon, Sales Manager at Raging Bull Sportswear, said: “The guys are looking professional and smart in their new kit and now it’s all about playing smart. The set-up, facilities and coaching team under Lee Greenwood is second to none and gives the guys the best environment, attracting talent and league internationals into the team. Good luck in your pre-season friendly against South Wales Scorpions, and I look forward to coming to some more games this year. For fans, we have set up an online shop with a great range of merchandise for supporters including the popular replica playing shirts.”

Also at the kit launch was Krista Woodman, director and head of private client tax services at Smith & Williamson’s Cheltenham office, who sits on the All Golds Advisory Board. She said: “We are proud to be associated with this up and coming team whose players are such great ambassadors for the county. With four international players joining the team and other exciting developments in the pipeline, we look forward to another action-packed season.”

The kit launch falls a couple of weeks prior to the All Golds Business Breakfast meeting on Monday, 15 February. Falling on the anniversary of the great match of 1908 between the All Golds and the Northern Union in Cheltenham, this popular networking event is hosted by both the All Golds and the University of Gloucestershire and kicks off 2016 with special guest speakers Luc Morel, general manager at the Greenway Hotel and Spa and Iestyn Harris, one of the greatest players of his generation. The event takes place at the Park campus from 7am and tickets are available from business@allgolds.com, priced at £10.

The first home league game of the season will be against border rivals South Wales Scorpions on Wednesday, 16 March at the Prince of Wales stadium. The ‘All Golds in Gold Cup Week’ match will kick off at 7pm on the Cheltenham Festival Ladies Day.