Australian sports apparel company BLK, which supplies kits to National Rugby League side Gold Coast Titans, Australian Football League sides Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns and a "host of other sporting clubs, has gone into administration," according to Hamilton, Badel & Walsh of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. The Gold Coast company’s financial plight "will have widespread ramifications across the entire Australian sporting landscape." Both World Rugby Specialists, whose director is listed as Tyron Brant, and World Rugby Specialists Group, whose director is named as Kim Brant, "are in receivership." These companies trade as BLK, which supplies training and playing gear to the Lions, Suns, Titans and Queensland Reds and has been "placed under external administration." Receiver McGrathNicol said in a statement that it had "assumed control of the companies' assets" and was "undertaking an urgent appraisal of BLK’s operations to determine the best course of action." McGrathNicol said that it would "liaise with stakeholders including staff and suppliers." The Titans "are in limbo as they sweat on the arrival of their playing strip" for '17. Titans CEO Graham Annesley said that the NRL-controlled club is "exploring contingency plans after already placing an order with BLK for next season’s kit." Annesley: "I have been made aware of the situation regarding BLK. We are currently dealing with the NRL through their own merchandise division to determine our next steps. As far as we know, our jerseys for next season are being shipped. The NRL are going to help us coordinate what we do with our apparel and merchandise" (COURIER-MAIL, 11/15).
