By Jason Harris
June 6 2002

Global sports brand Reebok have signed a two year agreement with Saracens for the supply of team and replica apparel. Furthermore, Reebok are going to get heavily involved with Sarries' youth development programme, starting with the indivisual backing of young back rower Ben Skirving. Saracens will be the only club side in Europe to sport the Reebok name on their shirts in this exclusive deal. Both Sarries Managing Director Tim Lawler and Reebok's UK Sport Marketing Manager Gareth Davies see the two years as just the beginning of the relationship.

Sarries and Reebok will use the club's tour to Japan to play a select XV - featuring Australian and New Zealand ex-pats - and club side Suntory as a collective marketing exercise for both parties and there will be more of the same to follow.

Saracens hope that the success achieved by Reebok and Liverpool FC in recent years can be replicated at Vicarage Road with the manufacturer backing a series of youth and community development initiatives by the club.

The new home and alternate shirts will, according to Davies, be available for fans to buy from 22 August and there will also be a special European shirt, the launch of which will co-incide with Sarries Parker Pen Shield campaign in October.

Early indications are that the new shirt will be an all-round improvement on the Canterbury apparel which has been used for the last three seasons and Unibond will stay as the main shirt sponsor.