Thrown together during the recent ‘Mouthguard-gate’ debacle at the Rugby World Cup, Manu Tuilagi (pictured) has signed a four-year deal to become the face of OPRO.
The 20-year-old Leicester Tigers player will become an ambassador for the company, now known throughout the world as the manufacturer of the branded mouthguards that both Manu and his brother Alesana chose to wear during their matches while playing for England and Samoa respectively.
OPRO, which has recently launched a new sportswear division called OPRO360, is delighted to have Manu on board.
“We had been looking for a face of OPRO for some time,” says Richard Evans, the company’s sales director, “and Manu is an exciting young player. He is the right ambassador for us at the right time.”
When news of the fines imposed by the IRB on the Tuilagi brothers broke, OPRO was accused of ambush marketing, a claim strenuously denied by Dr Anthony Lovat, OPRO’s founder and managing director, who said that as a professional organisation OPRO would never engage in such conduct.
As a firm believer in the OPRO brand, Manu decided to continue wearing his mouthguard for the remainder of England’s World Cup games.
However, in order to avoid further fines he coloured in the entire front of the mouthguard in black marker pen.
Manu explains: “My OPRO mouthguard is the most comfortable one I have ever worn and because it stays so well in my mouth it means I’m not even aware I have it in.”
