After the Blues, the Blacks?
Mohed Altrad, the CEO and creator of the eponymous group, specializing in construction materials, president of Montpellier and sponsor of the XV of France since 2018, is in discussions with the New Zealand Rugby Federation to become a partner, according to information from Olympic noon.
At the end of 2021, the All Blacks will indeed lose their jersey sponsor AIG, an American insurance group that does not wish to renew its contract, of around 9 million euros per year over the last five seasons. .
"It's a prestigious brand," Mohed Altrad confirmed to L'Equipe.
We are interested, but to date nothing has been done.
It is impossible to say that the Altrad group will be the next jersey sponsor of the All Blacks.
Negotiations are underway.
There are indeed still many questions to be raised.
The price first, which, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, will have to be revised downwards.
In comparison, the company Altrad pays 7 million euros per season to appear on the jersey of the XV of France.
Ethical issues
It will then be necessary for the agreement to be validated by international bodies, because being a sponsor of two national teams likely to compete in competitions raises ethical questions.
Mohed Altrad, who had wanted to buy the English club Gloucester in 2017, had been retoked for this reason, already being the owner of Montpellier.
The New Zealanders also demand that the sponsor of the All Blacks also be that of all their national teams, women, youth, rugby sevens ... Which is not necessarily interesting in terms of visibility, even for a group established in 120 country.
The only certainty, Mohed Altrad assured that he would not be a jersey sponsor for the Ferns players at the 2023 World Cup, even if the contract was signed.
“We will be able to work on hospitality”, he emphasizes.
The opening match of the World Cup, France-New Zealand, will therefore not see two teams with flocked jerseys of the same name compete.
