BOULDER, CO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/25/13 -- As Team USA Rugby tackles the future of the increasingly popular sport and its increasingly successful national teams -- the USA Eagles -- the organization will have a new player on its team.

American hard cider maker Crispin Cider Co. has signed a three-year agreement with Boulder, Colo.-based USA Rugby to become the official hard cider of USA Rugby.

"Crispin has been a proud supporter of U.S. rugby teams since the day we bottled our first cider," said Crispin Cider Co. President Joe Heron. "We're as enthusiastic and passionate about the sport as the exceptional people who play the game. No helmets. No pads. Just lots of ice. Perfect. We like to tackle hard and play to win, just like the Eagles. The fit with the team at USA Rugby is natural in terms of values and personal chemistry."

As the official hard cider of USA Rugby, Crispin has rights to use USA Rugby marks on products and marketing, in addition to on-site visibility during official USA Rugby National Club Championship and domestic national team events. Sponsorship communications will be focused on rugby fans, players and USA Rugby members alike who are 21 and older.

In addition to being an official sponsor of USA Rugby, Crispin will continue to partner at a grassroots level with rugby clubs across the nation. Crispin will further that involvement with the sponsorship of annual awards in partnership with USA Rugby. These include the USA Rugby Crispin Club Rugby Coach of the Year/NCS Championships for both male and female team coaches, and the USA Rugby Crispin Club Rugby MVP of the Year/NCS Championships for the best male and female rugby players.

"Rugby is on fire in the U.S.," said Nigel Melville, president and CEO of USA Rugby. "Participation and attendance at all levels are growing exponentially, the Eagles are performing at the highest level in our history, and we look forward to participating in the Men's and Women's Rugby Sevens World Cup in 2013, the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2014 and the Men's Rugby World Cup in 2015.

"Rugby is a team game, and we're thrilled to have Crispin on our team going forward. We love their energy, their passion for the game, and their willingness to work with us to the benefit of the future of the sport as a whole, as well as clubs, players, fans, and of course, the Eagles."

About USA Rugby - Established in 1975, USA Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby in America and a Full Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels and has over 115,000 active members. USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes. It also hosts more than 30 national playoff and championship events every year as a service to its members. In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced that Rugby Sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Visit www.usarugby.org for more information.

The Crispin Cider Company produces natural, hard-apple craft ciders using fermented and unpasteurized American fresh-pressed apple-juice. Varieties include Original, Light and Brut, and additional unfiltered Artisanal Reserves: Honey Crisp, Lansdowne, The Saint and Cho-tokkyu. Crispin also imports a classic English Dry Cider, Crispin Browns Lane. More information is available at www.CrispinCider.com.

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