A valuable win for a sporting Classic

Camperdown-based sports merchandise company Classic Sportswear has secured a massive contract to supply supporter and mascot apparel to the National Rugby League (NRL).

Classic co-proprietor and director Jim Brennan said the four-year deal, to run from 2009 to 2012, would put Classic in charge of "thousands of SKUs" of NRL supporter clothing, including polos, tees, caps and hats across the men's, women's and children's categories.

While declining to put a dollar figure on the win, he said it came as demand from fans for apparel in their team colours was spiking, generating $8.5 million in royalties for clubs in 2007, a 28 per cent rise from 2006.

"This is a great win for us. It's very positive that we will have such a strong supply role to the NRL."
Brennan attributed Classic's win, following a testing tender process, to its long-standing status as an "iconic" sports brand.

"In addition, while we do draw some product out of China, we manufacture here, which allows us to control our quality and the size of our runs and adapt quickly to changing market demand."

NRL director, marketing and commercial Paul Kind said Classic would play a central role in an increasingly key income stream for the NRL.

"NRL Supporter apparel alone generated $10 million in sales last year and continues to grow along with the popularity of the game. There has never been more interest in this range of merchandise, both at a commercial level and among fans, and we welcome Classic Sportswear's commitment to giving Rugby League supporters a new and exciting range of apparel."

Classic co-proprietor and director and Jim Brennan's business partner  Tony Magnus said the NRL license win would boost Classic Sportswear's 75th anniversary celebrations this year.

"Over the past 75 years, Classic Sportswear has been involved with the vast majority of Rugby League clubs. Now we have a unique chance to work with the NRL to ensure Rugby League remains a leader in sports fashion in the Australian market, with designs and fabrications developed to identify with our favourite teams and also with our Australian lifestyle."

By Belinda Smart