French national rugby team jersey sponsor change, Digi Mart USA News (France): After displaying the name of the Altrad group on their jersey for the past ten years, the French national rugby team will change sponsors next season. The French Rugby Federation (FFR) confirmed on Tuesday that its contract with Altrad, the first jersey sponsor in the history of the XV de France, will not be renewed.
Altrad became the team’s first jersey sponsor in 2017, and will no longer hold that role from the 2027-2028 season. The group is led by Mohed Altrad, chief executive of a company that produces and distributes equipment for construction and public works, and also president of the Montpellier rugby club.
The change had been anticipated, and is now official.
In a statement, the FFR said it had launched a selection process for its future partner starting in the 2027-2028 season, and had informed the Altrad group that its offer had not been selected. The federation’s president, Florian Grill, expressed thanks to the group for nearly ten years of support, although the current contract runs until June 2027.
According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, CMA CGM, a major French shipping company headquartered in Marseille and the world’s third-largest container shipping company, appears to be the front-runner to replace Altrad as the new jersey sponsor. The company already sponsors Olympique de Marseille in football and the Decathlon CMA CGM cycling team.
The French players will stop displaying the name of their first sponsor starting with the preparation matches ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The FFR said discussions are ongoing, with several proposals still under consideration, and that no final decision has yet been made regarding the team’s future jersey partner.
