New Zealand Rugby launching legal fight with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS over sponsorship row

Tuesday, 11 February 2025

After losing the Barcelona decider to Team NZ, the British sailor was coy on what Sir Jim Ratcliffe's future involvement would look like.

New Zealand Rugby has launched an unprecedented legal fight with a major sponsor owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

NZ Rugby has alleged that Ratcliffe’s global chemicals company, INEOS, has breached its sponsorship agreement after confirming an end to their six-year deal that started in 2022.

“Most recently, it failed to pay the first instalment of the 2025 sponsorship fee,” NZ Rugby said in a statement issued to Stuff on Tuesday.

“Having learned of INEOS’ decision to walk away three years early, we have moved to protect the interests of New Zealand Rugby and the wider game. We have been left with no option but to launch legal proceedings to protect our commercial position.”

The row will have wider ramifications because it leaves NZ Rugby in a financial hole, without one of their main sponsors whose deal was believed to be worth about US$8million (NZ$14m) a year, and it could be the start of an ugly legal dispute.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is one of the UK’s richest figures.

INEOS was widely visible via their national teams, such as the All Blacks, the Black Ferns and both sevens sides. It was branded on the back of the teams’ playing shorts and on the front of their training jerseys.

Taking on Ratcliffe comes with risk. He is one of the UK’s richest figures and, according to Forbes, his net worth is a reported US$15.7 billion (NZ$27.8 billion).

INEOS was a major sponsor for NZ Rugby and was branded on playing and training apparel for the national teams including the All Blacks and the Black Ferns.

NZ Rugby has nonetheless taken a firm stance in a brewing storm that seems destined for the courts.

Their relationship looks broken and NZ Rugby has prioritised finding a new sponsor.

NZ Rugby was part of INEOS’ sporting stable that includes football giants Manchester United, who Ratcliffe co-owns, and the Mercedes Formula One team.

However, the rugby section of INEOS’ website has effectively been erased.

Sir Ben Ainslie wasn’t wearing INEOS branding after last year’s America’s Cup finished in Barcelona, despite Ratcliffe’s company sponsoring their campaign.

Ratcliffe’s company is also in an America’s Cup legal battle with decorated sailor Sir Ben Ainslie, who was skipper of the British team that had INEOS as its chief sponsor for six years.

They were united for two Cup campaigns in Auckland (2021) and Barcelona (2024), but their bitter split emerged last month and was also heading to the courts.

NZ Rugby first confirmed a six-year agreement with INEOS in 2021 (starting in 2022 through to the end of 2027) despite pressure from Greenpeace to abort the deal because of concerns the company was contributing to global warming.

The governing body faced more worries with a major sponsor in late 2022 when Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of French construction company Altrad, was handed an 18-month suspended jail term after being found guilty of corruption in connection with the company’s sponsorship of the French national team.

Altrad, a more lucrative sponsor whose deal runs until the end of 2027, has remained on the front of the All Blacks and Black Ferns playing jerseys.

While Adidas, one of the world’s most recognisable sports brands, has long remained a primary sponsor of New Zealand’s national teams, NZ Rugby will be scrambling to find a replacement for INEOS.

The INEOS deal would have been a significant part of NZ Rugby’s financial planning and another large firm, willing to match or come close to their commercial arrangement, will be needed to offset any potential shortfalls.

There is also the public problem of INEOS’ branding on national teams.

The two sevens teams, the All Blacks Sevens and the Black Ferns Sevens, are due to continue playing when Vancouver stages the next leg of the world series next weekend.

In 15s, the Black Ferns are also scheduled to play their first matches of the year in May or June and the All Blacks host France in three tests in July.

INEOS was contacted for comment.