The Welsh Rugby Union confirmed a new £33M ($47M) deal with kit manufacturer Under Armour, and announced the national team will play Japan later this year, according to Jon Doel of WALES ONLINE. Wales coach Warren Gatland's side will face the team that "set the Rugby World Cup alight at Principality Stadium" on Nov. 19 as part of the newly-named Under Armour Series. The WRU's nine-year extension to its deal with UA is believed to be worth a "staggering" £33M. UA was "barely known in Europe when they came on board eight years ago," in a deal worth in excess of £10M. The value of it has "gone up considerably." It was worth about £2.5M a year back in '08 but that figure will now rise to approximately £3.6M ($5.1M) (WALES ONLINE, 1/25). The SOUTH WALES EVENING POST reported UA "also becomes the title sponsor" of Welsh rugby's autumn int'l series matches for the next nine years. The partnership will also provide WRU with access to Under Armour's Connected Fitness platform. In addition to matchday kits, UA will provide performance training gear to the WRU first team, age grade squads, sevens and women's teams (SOUTH WALES EVENING POST, 1/25).
