New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and British chemical giant Ineos have reached a settlement agreement regarding a sponsorship contract dispute. Previously, Ineos unilaterally terminated its sponsorship agreement with NZR ahead of schedule, leading to legal action. The company also holds shares in Manchester United Football Club, which is part of its sports investment portfolio.
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04-05, 2025Both parties issued a joint statement on Monday, announcing that the issue has been resolved. The statement read: "New Zealand Rugby and Ineos confirm that they have reached a settlement." The statement also indicated that while specific details remain confidential, both parties are satisfied with the outcome and look forward to moving forward in the future.
It is reported that Ineos, chaired by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, agreed in 2021 to become NZR's performance partner from 2022 to 2027. The agreement included displaying the Ineos brand on the back of the national team's (including the three-time World Cup champion All Blacks and the six-time Women's World Champion Black Ferns) match shorts and on the front of training jerseys.
However, NZR stated in February of this year that Ineos "failed to pay the first installment of the 2025 sponsorship fee and confirmed its withdrawal from the six-year agreement." Ineos stated at the time that the European chemical industry was facing difficulties due to "high energy taxes and extremely high carbon taxes" as well as "deindustrialization in Europe." "We have had to implement cost-saving measures throughout the business. Given these challenges, we attempted to reach a reasonable agreement with the All Blacks to adjust our sponsorship."
