All Blacks break with tradition

All Blacks break with tradition

12 Oct 2012

The All Blacks jersey will have the three letters of new sponsor AIG on the front for the next five years, starting from next week’s Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane.

The sponsorship deal with the US-based insurance company – which also takes in the NZ Maori, NZ Sevens, Black Ferns, Women’s Sevens and U20 national teams – was confirmed at a press conference in Auckland.

‘This is a great day for New Zealand rugby,’ said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew. ‘This is an exciting new partnership that will further secure the future of rugby at all levels in this country and pave the way for our game to reach new fans around the world. Today’s announcement is a game changer for New Zealand rugby.’

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said the new sponsorship arrangement had his support.

‘It’s really flattering that a company this big has chosen New Zealand rugby to be its cornerstone sponsorship. It shows incredible respect for our traditions, heritage and record of success across all our teams. This will really help make our game stronger right from the community game to the All Blacks so this is great news for rugby.’

The AIG logo on the All Blacks jersey is just under one third the size of the maximum allowed under IRB guidelines.

‘This is not a decision we have taken lightly. Like all New Zealanders we greatly respect the rich and proud heritage of the black jersey, which is why NZRU consulted with senior players and others as we carefully weighed up this latest move,’ Tew said.


573 Comments

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  • 1.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:00 am

    rugby harlots…

  • 2.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:03 am

    “‘It’s really flattering that a
    company this big has chosen New Zealand rugby to be its
    cornerstone sponsorship.”

    um, richie AIG were Man Yoo’s sponsors before they had to be bailed out by obama…

  • 3.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:11 am

    aig = a.rseholes infringement game…?..

  • 4.corporal punishment: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:15 am

    I don’t like it, but that is professional sport. It was always going to happen sooner or later. At least the AB’s did it whilst they could command maximum $ I suppose.

    The AB’s need to cash in whilst we are reigning world champions and get that cash in the bank whilst we can for future rainy days :-)

  • 5.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:15 am

    @Transformation-2:
    yip
    the two are actually well suited considering aig’s history. one group of scummy conmen finding fraternity with another.

    aig = adventures in greed

  • 6.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:27 am

    The All Blacks are the most valuable brand in international Rugby. Makes sense to monetise the value of the brand, at a time when the ABs are World Cup champions

  • 7.Rage: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:27 am

    Lmao, hell no man bakkies
    aint it to early for this AB bashing?

  • 8.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:32 am

    @Bakkies

    6.?viewer said: ?
    12 Oct 2012, 07:27 am
    The All Blacks are the most valuable brand in International Rugby.

    Believe it or not Bakkies ;)

  • 9.katman: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:34 am

    ALL IS GONE.

  • 10.Jeraldjay: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:37 am

    Ah, so it wasn’t worth it to buy out the sponsor.

    This is my world and I find it very, very interesting.

  • 11.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:39 am

    With respect to our New Zealand bloggers, Richie’s one will be in bigger letters: “Ain’t I Great?”

    :-)

  • 12.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:40 am

    @Rage-7:
    i think you mean:
    is it ever too early for the truth?

    the answer is no.

    @viewer-8:
    keep dreaming sweetcheeks

    lets get the numbers out on the size of the sponsorship and then we compare.
    you, along with a few other kiwis fool yourselves in thinking their national rugby teams popularity stretches to even a dent in likes of the peoples of the globe.

    dreaming…

  • 13.fishdish: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:43 am

    Oh great!
    Time for every UFS or farm-schooled graduate to pretend like english is their 1st language and display some kind of pseudo intellect with what they propose to be witty acronyms to try discredit a brand the likes of them will never understand..

  • 14.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:43 am

    (Reuters) – A public pension fund has sued the chief executive and board of American International Group Inc (AIG.N), accusing them of mismanagement and “grossly imprudent risk taking” that led to the insurer’s $85 billion government rescue this week.

  • 15.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:46 am

    Bakkies thats the nail in the Bokke coffin right there, you can’t compete on or off the paddock

  • 16.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:47 am

    AIG Directors Sued by Pension Fund Over Mismanagement (Update1)
    By Sophia Pearson – September 17, 2008 17:25 EDT

    Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) — Directors at American International Group Inc., which is receiving an $85 billion bailout from the U.S. government, were sued by a pension fund seeking to recover losses it blamed on company mismanagement.

    AIG’s senior management and directors failed to implement proper controls and monitor the risk of losses in the subprime market, lawyers for the City of New Orleans Employees’ Retirement System said in a complaint filed today in Delaware Chancery Court in Wilmington on AIG’s behalf.

    “In spite of AIG’s abysmal corporate governance record and myriad red flags concerning the subprime crisis, the individual defendants knew or recklessly disregarded risks the company faced,” lawyers for the pension fund said in the complaint.

  • 17.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:48 am

    ******** in Government

  • 18.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:48 am

    Bakkies thats the Bokke’s death notice just signed, you can’t compete on or off the paddock.

  • 19.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:48 am

    a.rseholes

  • 20.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:49 am

    Am I Greedy

  • 21.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:49 am

    Great deal for us, secures the future of NZ rugby and nails the coffin shut nobody will compete now.

  • 22.RL: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:52 am

    Kiwis are desperate these days – their cash cow the Bledisloe (sp) matches are a massive cash flop and their socialist system is a big drain on their finances.

    What is next for the cheats.

  • 23.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:54 am

    RL the world record is next

  • 24.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:55 am

    they should put a flour bomb badge on aswel… i have no respect for that jersey .. f them!

  • 25.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:55 am

    @RL-22:
    they could always just pull out the old cap in hand party trick
    and go straight to sanzar or the irb

  • 26.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:58 am

    Listen to some of you jealous 3rd best in the world team supporters.
    It was only a matter of time before sponsors once again line up to get there name on the most sucessful rugby team in the world and ever was.
    Bakkies, see a doctor. Never heard of a 2 year period……especially if you are a guy.

  • 27.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 07:59 am

    @12 Bakkies I’m not even a Kiwi, so there’s no bias or hyperbole in my suggestion. I’m in rainy Tshwane. Glad I didn’t wash the car this week

  • 28.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:01 am

    Perhaps you should stop worrying about the world champs and concentrate on trying to win a trophy ( any trophy).

  • 29.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:01 am

    wtf is a Tshwane? its Pretoria meneer!

  • 30.David: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:02 am

    I wonder what the sponsorship figure is. Seeing that it covers almost all national rugby sides it could be spread a bit thin.

  • 31.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:03 am

    Hurri big big deal, secures the future and we can concentrate on what we do best – winning.

  • 32.Black Power: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:05 am

    Everything is up for sale at the right price. It was inevitable.

  • 33.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:05 am

    David in conjunction with the Sanzar and Adidas deals its the extra dollars we needed.

  • 34.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:07 am

    @NZINCHINA-31:
    Yep,winning is what we do best.
    If the boks could play rugby as good as Bakkies whining and complaining, we would need more than a good sponser.

  • 35.Black Power: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:10 am

    i_love_u_bakkiesbotha & suffer_guy

    You both have a serious problem, you will find a phone number in the yellow pages for the local shrink. I advise you to find one.

  • 36.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:11 am

    @viewer-27:
    oh, ok
    are you holding up the pretoria chapter of the s’effrican all black supporters club..?..

    @suffer_guy-29:
    hehehe

    i do not condone or support such actions
    but i find it very snaaks

  • 37.David: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:13 am

    Interesting that this deal was signed at the same time that O’Neil resigned. I wonder if there’s a connection?

  • 38.RL: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:14 am

    Who is that posing in the jersey – do not recognise him if he is not standing in an offside position.

    :razz:

  • 39.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:17 am

    @RL-38:
    Hehehe
    Look at his left eye,Looks like he has just finished playing the boks.
    Finger print his eye and catch the Bok culprit

  • 40.David: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:19 am

    @Hurricane-39:
    Nah, it was his wife.

  • 41.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:20 am

    nothing but the truth here, hurri

    you will find it disturbing considering the fact you’re one of them.
    facts are like wooden stakes and crucifixes to the nightwalkers.

  • 42.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:20 am

    @David-40:
    :-)

  • 43.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:22 am

    @black power

    i advise you go ***** yourself

  • 44.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:24 am

    Ah AIG, one of the main culprits who started this world wide recession. Obviously they aren’t paying the price!

  • 45.viewer: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:25 am

    @36 Bakkies Proud South African. No, I m not a sycophant so no cape crusading for me at all.

    @RL 38 Classic :D

    Only a matter of time before someone blogs that “In time, Some young Maori fellas will tattoo AIG on their arms”

    But I won’t be the one to do it :)

  • 46.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:25 am

    @Hurricane-39: More a case of his mascara getting in his eye, he should get his lessons from Mia Nanu who also uses makeup.

  • 47.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:26 am

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-41:
    Bakkies, you dont even know what the truth is….seriously.
    ABs get a sponsor and you go all feral on it.
    I find it disturbing when a Bok team is not good enough and supporters like you blame everything else…..thats disturbing.
    Now you have a problem with a sponsor of the ABs…..give it a rest

  • 48.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:28 am

    @goodstuff-46:
    lol
    hey, the ABs have a couple of wriiten rules you should know about.
    1) When visiting SA dont buy their food.
    2) Do not share Mascara with friends

  • 49.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:29 am

    @goodstuff-44:
    Wonder why they wanted to back the ABs and not the Boks….. :-)

  • 50.goodstuff: Reply to this comment
    12 Oct 2012, 08:30 am

    @NZINCHINA-28: Not everone is as cosumed by the AB’s as you sheep lovers. We’ve allready started focusing on our 100 year old domestic compition. I realise the ITM CUp is a bit weak and thus you are still hammering on about the RC, you guys played well and will defnitly get the record. Hope the bedesloe gets you an extra couple of bucs, you guys obviously need it, talk about a dead rudder, blacks by 30.

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