Gilbert Rugby has announced a new licensing partnership with the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series.

The new agreement sees Gilbert become the ‘Official Match Ball and Licensee’ of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series, exclusively producing a range of balls in celebration of the Lions Series in South Africa, available for purchase through Gilbert’s network of global distribution.

Gilbert, rugby’s original brand having been producing balls since the game started in 1823, has been a partner of SA Rugby for over 20 years, including the last two Lions Tours to South Africa, in 2009 and 1997.

All Lions Series matches will use the renowned Sirius match ball, as used successfully throughout the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup 2019 triumph, with a limited number of official match balls also available for rugby collectors to purchase from www.gilbertrugby.com.

Gilbert has been the official ball at the Rugby World Cup for the last seven consecutive tournaments and the Gilbert ball will be used exclusively at Rugby World Cup 2022 in New Zealand and France 2023.