A Brief History of Rhino Rugby

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct. 30, 2012 - Rhino is one of the leading rugby brands in the world and has become part of the very fabric of the game itself. Rhino Rugby was founded in the early 1980s when the world’s first mass produced scrummaging machine, the Powerhouse, was developed by Rhino’s Founder, Tim Francis, who at that time was a master at Dulwich College. Having relocated to Devon, he joined together with his brother in law Derek de Glanville, father of England captain Phil, and Phil Keith-Roach (scrum coach to the 2003 England World Cup winning side) to develop a full range of rugby training products.  In 1988 the business was incorporated and raised funds through a Business Expansion Scheme share issue, led by current CEO Reg Clark and legendary Rosslyn Park, Lions, England and Barbarians number 8 Andy Ripley, who became a significant shareholder and Chairman of the company for the next 18 years.          

Rhino continued to grow at a rapid pace into the nineties and was named as Official Supplier of scrummaging machines, contact and training equipment and pitch kits to the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cups, a fact acknowledged many years later when Warner Brothers invited all  of the staff of the company to the West End Premiere of Invictus to thank them for their work. Rhino also became Official Supplier to England Rugby in the 1994/5 season, a relationship which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Further high profile Official Supplier deals followed with Wales, Bath and the Cardiff Blues.        

At the turn of the Millennium, Rhino was flourishing. In late 2006, following the decision of Managing Director Derek de Glanville to retire, longstanding shareholder Reg Clark teamed up with England World Cup winning captain, Martin Johnson to effect a buy out of the business, which relocated to Chiswick, West London where it is headquartered today. Official Supplier deals in training equipment with London Wasps and St Helens Rugby League Club (a breakthrough deal into that code) were subsequently announced and in the area of on-field kit and teamwear the Rhino Pure Rugby brand was soon to be adorned by Northampton Saints, Edinburgh and Llanelli Scarlets, in addition to Magners League referees and officials. Rhino was also named Official Supplier of scrummaging and training equipment and the official tour ball to the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 2009.

After 25 years of being at the forefront of British rugby, Rhino launched its first range of casual separates, RhinoGB. This premiere collection was an introduction to Rhino as a clothing brand name as well as the rugby equipment brand name. The first range for Winter 2010 consisted of tee shirts, polo shirts, retro rugby (http://rhinogb.com/heritage-clothing/all/retro-rugby-C.html) shirts, hooded sweat shirts and a specially commissioned, old school fashion (http://rhinogb.com/heritage-clothing/old-school-fashion) Union Jack Jacket. The range of heritage clothing and rugby leisure (http://rhinogb.com/heritage-clothing/all/rugby-leisure-1-...) apparel is aimed at the young, athletic University sports fan through to the more mature, stylish, sporty dresser.  

Rhino aims to continue to be at the forefront of all aspects of development of training equipment for rugby, and is particularly concerned with player safety, having taken a lead in a recent two year campaign to promote safe and efficient fully contested scrummaging in the rugby union game. Rhino’s values of toughness, reliability, integrity, heritage and team spirit are born out of the game of rugby itself.