Scottish Rugby secures biggest ever sponsorship / New kit partner Macron agrees four-year deal /Supporters to play part in designing new Scotland kitScottish Rugby is delighted to announce today that it has secured the biggest sponsorship deal in its history.New kit partner, Macron, will come on board in the summer to become official kit supplier for all Scotland representative teams and the professional clubs, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.A unique part of the four-year deal will see Scottish Rugby ask supporters for their views on the new Scotland kit ahead of its launch later this summer. Scottish Rugby’s Chief Executive Mark Dodson said: “This historic deal for Scottish Rugby is very welcome news and I would like to thank Macron for joining us in this ground-breaking partnership. “The new deal will start on 1 July when our existing agreement with Canterbury of New Zealand comes to an end.  I thank Canterbury for all their support of Scottish Rugby. Today is about welcoming Macron and looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership which will benefit our sport, on the international, top-level and community playing fields and for our supporters who pull on the shirt and share that pride. “Listening to Chris Paterson, one of Scottish Rugby’s all time-greats, I was struck by his view that he was really only ‘borrowing’ the jersey.  There were great players who had worn it in the past and, we all hope, greats who will wear it in the future.”But the jersey itself belongs to the nation and that’s why we want to involve our supporters in what their team will be wearing.”Paterson, Scottish Rugby’s ambassador, and Scotland’s cap and points’ record-holder, who wore the Scotland jersey on some 109 occasions and the Macron designed Edinburgh Rugby kit, said: “Scots, the world over, take great pride in the team jersey. “It’s so much more than a piece of fabric. It symbolises Scotland and all our heritage and tradition.  For me there was always a duty to fill the jersey and enhance that pride. “It’s great that Scotland supporters will have the chance to influence the new jersey when Macron becomes Scottish Rugby’s official kit supplier in July.”?Gianluca Pavanello, Macron’s CEO said: It is an honour for us to be welcomed by Scotland, one of the cornerstone nations of international rugby, where the game of 7s was born. “It is with great pride that we announce the entrance of the Scotland national rugby team alongside Scottish Rugby’s pro-club Glasgow Warriors into the Macron family, while retaining Edinburgh Rugby, our first partnership in Scottish Rugby. “We fully understand that these three organisations retain a very separate identity yet are linked by passion for the sport and share the end goal and honour to wear the thistle upon their chest. These fundamental values fit well with Macron’s message of ‘Work Hard, Play Harder’ and together with these great organisations we aim to spearhead rugby in Scotland from grassroots level all the way through to professionals.??”Working closely with the players, staff and the supporters we will continuously strive to develop high quality and technically superior products in order to allow all the athletes that wear Macron to concentrate on what they do best, which is playing rugby.” Scottish Rugby’s Director of Commercial Operations, Communications and Public Affairs, Dominic McKay, said: “Today’s announcement is most timely ahead of the start of the RBS 6 Nations Championship next week. “As we all know, these are challenging economic times but there is growing confidence amongst the global business community in the strength of Scottish Rugby brand and the values of our sport. “Macron joins The Famous Grouse, Tennant Caledonian Brewery and UNILEVER/Dove Men+Care, internationally recognised brands, in becoming part of the Scottish Rugby family in the past two months and joining some of our well established partners such as RBS. “We’ve been very impressed by Macron.  We’ve had the pleasure of working with them as official kit supplier to Edinburgh Rugby for the past three years. “Their ranges display traditional Italian flair and they work in close collaboration with players to take on board their opinions to provide innovation and any little advantage that can be gained through kit design.”Scotland will be Macron’s lead brand in world rugby and will enable Macron to grow its brand on a global basis.”Given the magnitude of the deal and his experience and expertise in sports retail, Edinburgh Rugby managing director Craig Docherty will manage the relationship with Macron on Scottish Rugby’s behalf as well as looking after our relationship with our retail partner and Scottish Rugby’s product licensing.? ?”As the partnership commences on 1 July, Scottish Rugby will be looking to find a successor to Craig in his post at Edinburgh Rugby in due course.”? ?Supporters can send in their designs and comments on what the new Scotland jersey should look like to [email protected].