Environmental group Greenpeace is pressing New Zealand Rugby to call off a proposed sponsorship deal with a UK-based petrochemicals manufacturer.

The All Blacks are on the verge of completing a sponsorship deal to have the name of the petroleum manufacturers on the back of their shorts.

According to reports, the deal could be worth in the region of US$5.7 million a year but needs the approval of Adidas, NZR’s technical partner. Greenpeace has now launched a petition calling on NZ Rugby to axe the deal altogether.

‘It’s appalling that in the thick of the climate crisis, our treasured national rugby teams could be branded with the logo of a company responsible for choking our oceans with plastic pollution and driving climate disasters,’ said Greenpeace senior campaigner Steve Abel.

‘As the world turns against the corporations driving climate catastrophe, NZ Rugby must not sell our soul to an English oil corporate which is cynically wanting to greenwash its image by associating with the All Blacks and our country’s environmental reputation.

‘We hope that the New Zealand public and All Blacks and rugby players both present and past will stand and tell NZ Rugby no, you must not stain the silver fern in oil,’ he added.

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