Velux 5 Oceans scrums down with Atlantique Stade Rochelais

by Velux 5 Oceans on 7 Oct 2010 La Rochelle's top rugby team launch race-inspired shirt.

Inspirational yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnston swapped his sailing jacket for a rugby shirt this evening to launch a new partnership between the Velux 5 Oceans and La Rochelle’s top rugby club Atlantique Stade Rochelais.

Velux 5 Oceans chairman Sir Robin, the first person ever to sail round the world solo non-stop, unveiled a brand rugby new shirt inspired by the 30,000-mile solo round the world race in La Rochelle, home of the Velux 5 Oceans.

Atlantique Stade Rochelais, who play in France’s premiere rugby league Top 14, will wear the shirt for their matches in the European Amlin Challenge Cup competition. The shirt will be debuted at Atlantique Stade Rochelais’ second round clash against Agen on Saturday October 16, the day before the start of the Velux 5 Oceans. The race will then continue to support Atlantique Stade Rochelais throughout their 2010/11 European campaign.

On the evening of October 16, Atlantique Stade Rochelais will play in front of a crowd of 11,500 fans at their home ground Stade Marcel-Deflandre in their new kit. In place of their normal yellow and black colours, the team will wear a shirt featuring an Eco 60 yacht surrounded by open sea and the Velux 5 Oceans logo.

'I have three passions in life – sailing, cricket and rugby,' said Sir Robin, announcing the partnership at a press conference in the Velux House, title sponsor Velux Group’s vision for sustainable housing and the centrepoint of the race village. For years I have followed my team Ireland in the Six Nations. Now it gives me great pleasure that I have another team to support: Atlantique Stade Rochelais.

'This is a great story for the Velux 5 Oceans, Atlantique Stade Rochelais and the city of La Rochelle. It is one of the many benefits of bringing the race to La Rochelle. Although I will be supporting all the skippers in the race, I just have one team in France to support: Atlantique Stade Rochelais.'

Vincent Merling, President of Atlantique Stade Rochelais, added 'The European challenge is a competition for the Top 14 teams and it allows Atlantique Stade Rochelais to play in the UK and in Italy. This is the opportunity to create a new, original shirt and for that we have found a fantastic partner with the Velux 5 Oceans. We are very proud to wear their colours.'

On Friday October 15, the day before the match, the Velux 5 Oceans skippers will go head to head with the Atlantique Stade Rochelais players in a winch grinding challenge at the Velux 5 Oceans race village. The competition will be an interesting one – will the rugby players be able to beat the Velux 5 Oceans skippers at their own game, or will the sailors come out on top over the professional sportsmen? Come to the race village at 5pm on October 15 to find out!

The Velux 5 Oceans, run by Clipper Ventures PLC, starts from La Rochelle and features five ocean sprints. After heading from La Rochelle to Cape Town, the race will then take in Wellington in New Zealand, Salvador in Brazil and Charleston in the US before returning back across the Atlantic to France. The race starts from La Rochelle at 4pm on October 17.

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