Rugby League: Rochdale Hornets launch new season kit

Rochdale Hornets launch new season kit

Rochdale Hornets launched their new season kit on Tuesday, to be first worn in January at the Law cup games.

The launch was held at the Kia Premier showroom - the club's official headline sponsor for 2018.

The Molesworth Street dealership has supported the club in several ways over the last two years.

The deal will see the Kia Premier brand on the front of the club’s home and away playing kits as well as replicas for the upcoming season.

Steve Kerr, CEO of the team, said: “We have thought long and hard about getting the right partner and sponsor. We wanted someone who was visual, clean cut, had similar brand values and was a growing business like us, and that’s what Kia is. Even their branding image fits well with our colours.

“The one thing we wanted to improve on was our visual presence around the town. We want to shout about who we are and that’s what we can do with these branded vehicles.”

Kia Premier Director Ben Bird said: "We are pleased to be partnering for a third season and this year being the headline sponsor for what is a great community lead club like Rochdale Hornets.

"Kia is a fantastic brand that has proved extremely popular in the local area and we take a great pride in that. We are looking forward to the year head and like Hornets, building on recent success.

"We can not wait to get along to The Crown Oil Arena to meet the supporters and hopefully see the team climb the table in 2018."

The announcement comes as Hornets launch ‘The Armbruster’ home jersey to commemorate their 10th year as a supporter owned and run co-operative. In 2018, there will be a historical back story to both Hornets jerseys.

Mr Kerr added: “We change the kit every season but this time we have decided to go with a more traditional home shirt. The away shirt being cerise and grey links back to our heritage, but has a more modern twist to target our younger audience.”

Hornet’s chairman, Mark Wynn said: “The first colour representation of a Hornets jersey is of Victor Armbruster wearing the famous red, white and blue hoops on a cigarette card from the 1920s.

“Armbruster signed for the club following a successful Kangaroos tour and has since been named in the 100 greatest Australian rugby league player’s ever. To put that into perspective in today’s money, it would be like us signing Cameron Smith.

“I love there to be a reason behind the jerseys and when we reverted back to our traditional hoops in 2013, we lifted a trophy for the first time in 91 years and in 2016 we won the competition wearing a traditional black and amber shirt.

“This year our alternate jersey will be cerise and grey – first worn by the club in the 1870s.”

Hornets players Danny Yates, Jo Taira, Gary Middlehurst and Dave Allen were all in attendance at the launch to showcase the new kit.

Danny Yates commented: “It is brilliant that Kia are behind us. They are a massive company and I know Steve and other people are always going out of their way to try and get people like this involved so funds like this are a massive deal for us.

“This season has been a tough one, and we are definitely all ready for Christmas and to have two months off but I am looking forward to the friendlies.

“We have done quite well in the Law cup before. We have been winners for the past few years and it is bonus that our first game against Oldham Roughyeds will be at Spotland so hopefully, we can bring another win at the friendly.”