Macron sportswear is conquering the world of rugby. Starting next season, the referees and other match officials of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup will wear the Macron Hero. Macron, the leading international brand in the world of rugby, is the new technical partner to European Professional Club Rugby, the tournament organiser of the world’s elite club rugby competitions.

EPCR organises the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup. The two major club cup competitions feature 42 teams from eight different countries: England, France, Georgia, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa, Wales. Each season’s destination Finals take place in an iconic rugby city, with the London 24 Finals at the conclusion of last season held at the world-class Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and next season’s Cardiff 25 Finals taking place at the iconic Principality Stadium.

The new agreement, which starts in the 2024/25 season, covers the supply of kits to EPCR’s more than 300 Match Officials and staff, as well as staff apparel and a complete line of merchandise for the Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup and both Finals. The new sportswear lines will be characterised by Macron’s usual high quality and technical content, and will be made from innovative fabrics capable of delivering the maximum performance and comfort needed to carry out the essential role of refereeing and ensuring fair play. In addition to the latest technology, the new garments will feature exclusive, elegant designs and will be finished with the greatest attention to detail.

“We are delighted to announce our new partnership with EPCR, which further reinforces our standing in the world of rugby, where we are rapidly establishing ourselves as the number one brand,” declared Gianluca Pavanello, CEO of Macron. “This new agreement is further recognition of the hard work, research and development that we have put into this sport and that has led to the development of highly innovative sportswear. Analysis of the needs of match officials in recent years has enabled us to create more advanced, higher performance kits that better suit the role these professionals have to fulfill on the pitch. We are proud that a growing number of rugby match officials – the latest being those of European Professional Club Rugby – are now taking the pitch with the Macron Hero on their shirts.”

Jacques Raynaud, CEO of EPCR, added: “We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Macron as our new official technical apparel partner. With the development of their innovative, high-performance sportswear, Macron are fast becoming the number one sportswear brand in rugby, and we are excited to join forces with them to deliver both match officials’ kit and staff apparel.”

“Macron is known for cutting-edge, high-performance sportswear and we are looking forward to seeing them bring their Italian flair to our EPCR kit. We are also delighted to partner with a brand with such strong credentials in the sustainability space through their Macron 4 The Planet programme, strengthening our commitment to partnerships with purpose embedded in our impACT sustainability strategy.”