MatchWornShirt Signs Five-year Partnership with French Rugby FederationMatchWornShirt Signs Five-year Partnership with French Rugby Federation

MatchWornShirt has entered a five-year partnership with the French Rugby Federation (FFR), marking its first long-term agreement with a national rugby team. The deal, brokered by FFR’s exclusive licensing agency IMG Licensing, will allow rugby fans to bid on match-issued and signed jerseys from France’s elite squads. 

Through this collaboration, MatchWornShirt will auction one of the three matchday shirts prepared for each French player on gameday. The platform launched its initial round of auctions during the Autumn Nations Series. It will now expand its offerings to include match-issued and signed jerseys from the French Men’s XV squad throughout the Six Nations tournament. The first auction began with the France vs. Wales match on Jan. 31 and will run until Feb. 8. The England vs. France auction will start on Feb. 8 and close on Feb. 15. 

Later this year, MatchWornShirt will extend its auction program to include jerseys from the Women’s XV, Men’s Sevens and Women’s Sevens teams. This will give fans access to memorabilia from the FFR’s elite squads while also giving these matchday shirts a second life. All net proceeds will go to Rugby au Cœur, a foundation launched by the FFR this year dedicated to supporting rugby in local communities across France. 

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“This is an enormous milestone for us, as the FFR become our first long-term partner in International Rugby,” says James Flude, head of business development, MatchWornShirt. “We have already seen first hand the incredible global demand for our domestic Rugby partners in France, and the response to the first FFR auctions at the end of last year was incredible. France are one of the great teams in world rugby and we’re delighted to be bringing their match-worn, issued and signed shirts to fans around the world for the next five years.” 

“This partnership with MatchWornShirt offers rugby fans the chance to own one of the three shirts prepared for each of our players on match day, keeping the connection to the French national teams alive,” says Alexandre Anginot, director of marketing and commercial assets, FFR. “Beyond owning a piece of history, each purchase gives these shirts a second life while also supporting the grassroots of the sport and its clubs. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the ‘Rugby au Cœur’ endowment fund, which helps finance educational and community rugby projects across France.”