REBELS FANS HAVE EVEN MORE REASON TO GET THEIR JERSEY FOR 2019 SEASON

MELBOURNE Rebels fans can now access official replica fan-wear at a reduced price thanks to their apparel partnership with Australian-based sportswear company BLK.

Rebels fans will have pre order access to the official 2019 Melbourne Rebels kit come Thursday, January 17 with adult replica jerseys priced at $99 and children kit’s selling for $49, the latter a new global benchmark.

Similar items previously sold in Australia for as much as $170 and $100 respectively.

The 2019 merchandise will be exclusively available from www.blksport.com, club websites and official game day vendors.

BLK chief executive Tyron Brant says the company’s partnership with the Melbourne Rebels is one of 11 with Australian professional sporting teams and aims to reduce the cost of replica jerseys and supporters gear to match the prices offered overseas.

“Having to pay up to $170 for a replica jersey or $100 for a kids’ jersey is unacceptable when people can visit a UK or US website and buy the exact same product from the exact same manufacturer for half the price – and that includes shipping,” he said.

“That is why we have had conversations with our partner clubs about taking control of our sales environment and I’m pleased to say they unanimously support our plan.

“This is the start of something very special and the momentum is not going to stop. We are committed to this and we challenge other sportswear brands to realign their own prices to global standards and stop taking advantage of Australian sports fans.”

Melbourne Rebels General Manager of Commercial & Marketing Ross Xenos says the team welcomes the much-needed consistency to the global cost of fanwear which will see as many fans as possible wearing their colours.

“Fanwear is a powerful tool to drive tribalism and ignite a sense of belonging among our fans and on game-day. We want Melbourne Rebels fans to be proud of their Club and with more affordable pricing, we hope that enables more fans than ever before to show their pride by wearing a jersey,” Mr Xenos said.

“We want to be extremely connected with our community and for Rugby to be accessible to all fans, from those coming to their first game to those that have played in their family for generations. There’s no doubt more affordable apparel is a key plank for us to bring that to life through our blue, red and white army at our 2019 games.”

As well as the Rebels, BLK has partnerships with netball’s Queensland Firebirds, Australian Baseball League’s eight clubs, every Australian state cricket side, Athletics Australia, South African Super Rugby side the Stormers, and Irish rugby side Connacht.

For more information visit www.blksport.com and www.melbournerebels.com.