EPCR, the tournament organiser of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, along with Italian sportswear giant Macron, have unveiled the design of new eco-friendly kit that match officials will wear during rugby’s premier international club competitions in the upcoming 2024/25 season.
The new kit, set to be worn by over 300 match officials, has been developed with sustainability at its core. Made from Eco Fabric, an innovative material made entirely from recycled post-consumer plastic, the kit showcases Macron’s cutting-edge technology advancements, while emphasising the shared commitment to sustainability between Macron and EPCR. EPCR’s sustainability strategy impACT, highlights the company’s commitment to delivering sustainability and positive environmental change across the organisation, from its administration to its tournaments, players, and partnerships.
Engineered for peak performance and comfort to support the demanding role of refereeing and running the game, the new game sets come in three vibrant colour options – fluorescent pink, blue and yellow – designed to stand out against the myriad of kits from the 42 clubs that take part in EPCR’s competitions. Each set incorporates distinctive design elements and features the Macron Hero and EPCR logos.
The jerseys are designed in a Slim Fit and made from Eco Fightex, with Eco Bodytex inserts, providing exceptional strength, durability, and breathability. The full kit includes black shorts and high-performance sports socks, which match the jersey colours and display the Macron Hero over the ankle.
The debut of the match official kit comes just one month after the new partnership between Macron and EPCR was announced, bringing together Rugby’s number one technical wear brand and the number one international club competition. In addition to the match officials kit, a range of merchandise will also be available for fans on the EPCR e-shop and at the Finals of both the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup in Cardiff.
Gianluca Pavanello, CEO of Macron said: “We are extremely happy to unveil the new Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup referee kits, the first since the start of this very important partnership. Providing all match officials with high-performance, functional and comfortable material is a real mission for us, in order to enable them to fulfil such a delicate and important role in the best possible way. Referees in sport represent values that are fundamental to us, such as respect and fair play, so it is a real pride for us to be at their side in some of the world’s most important competitions.”
