RFU REVEALS OFFICIAL GROUNDSKEEPING PARTNER

PICTURED ABOVE: Ian Ayling, grounds manager, RFU; Jack Brown, sales director, STIGA UK; James Gordon, managing director, STIGA UK; Claudio Borges, director of commercial and marketing, RFU

STIGA has been appointed Official Groundskeeping Partner of England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU).

In this role, the manufacturer will support both the senior men’s and women’s teams, as well as grassroots rugby clubs nationwide.

The company says their multi-year partnership with the RFU reflects their "commitment to easing the load on volunteers and grounds teams in pitch maintenance, while ensuring world-class playing surfaces for sports players at every level, contributing to nurturing rugby from the ground up."

As part of the agreement, the brand will support the maintenance of pitches and green spaces across the country, from elite England Rugby training facilities to grassroots clubs, by providing access to its autonomous robot mowers and battery-powered equipment.

James Gordon, managing director of STIGA UK, said, “Rugby is built on strong foundations, and we believe great games start with great grounds. By showcasing the quality and innovation of STIGA products, we will support clubs, inspire fans, and elevate standards across the sport.”

Claudio Borges, RFU executive director of commercial and marketing, said, “We are very excited to start this partnership with STIGA. We have aligned values and are excited to see where we can take this new relationship. Having the best pitches and training facilities is paramount to any professional team’s performance, and we are delighted that we will be getting support on this from STIGA.”

The partnership will be showcased through joint activations, branding across the Union’s channels, as well as those of the senior men’s and women’s teams and grassroots clubs, alongside a strengthened presence during key matches. Furthermore, demonstrating its commitment to the wider rugby community, STIGA will introduce an exclusive discount programme for all England Rugby clubs, the players and their members available via stiga.com. A portion of proceeds from these purchases will be reinvested directly into the RFU community.

This partnership between STIGA and RFU complements its existing collaborations with clubs such as Stade Toulousain in France, Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Germany, Benetton Rugby in Italy, Lech Poznań in Poland, and many others across Europe. This alliance also aligns with the manufacturer's recent expansion into the professional sector.