TRILLO METALS LTD EXPANDS SUPPORT TO SPONSOR MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CANTERBURY BULLS TEAMS

Canterbury Rugby League is thrilled to announce the expansion of its partnership with Trillo Metals Ltd, who have become naming rights sponsor for both the Canterbury Bulls Women’s and Canterbury Bulls Men’s teams ahead of their respective 2024 representative campaigns.

Trillo Metals Ltd have previously supported the Bulls Men’s team and came on-board as naming rights sponsor for the Canterbury Women’s side for their 2023 NZRL National Women’s Premiership foray – part of a longstanding commitment to backing rugby league and community sports.

The family owned and operated metal recycling business was founded in 1998 by Craig Trillo and has yards in Christchurch and Marlborough. The family name has flourished in the scrap metal industry for 60 years, starting with Craig’s father, Graeme, and has extended into a fourth generation.

Trillo Metals Ltd was a valued sponsor of the New Zealand Army rugby league team for three years before COVID interrupted the team’s immediate plans. Extending the company’s support of the game local is an enormous boost for Canterbury Rugby League.

“Our biggest motivation to come on-board as the men’s Bulls naming sponsor was the players themselves,” Trillo Metals Ltd general manager Spencer Trillo explains.

“I sat down late last year with my father, Craig, and my brother, Callum, to discuss what our various sponsorships were going to look like, heading into what was looking to be financially challenging times.

“When we talked about CRL, at no point did we ever discuss any cutbacks – the entire discussion revolved around doing more.

“We saw two teams who didn’t necessarily get the results they wanted [in 2023] but left everything on the field while representing our province. To us, that’s worth investing in. Letting these players know we see what they’re doing, and we believe in them. Canterbury as a region believes in them.”

Born and raised in Canterbury, Spencer attended high school in Marlborough – where Craig and his partner, Tuini, opened their first yard after starting the business from a single truck – before returning to Christchurch.

He has a long association with rugby league, dating back to playing junior footy for Eastern Suburbs. Knee injuries during high school halted his on-field participation but Trillo Metals Ltd’s contribution to the Bulls teams has reinforced ties with the codes.

“Our involvement with CRL has been incredible,” Trillo continues.

“We’ve been lucky to be around at a very transformative time – the work the CRL Board and staff are implementing is immense.

“Watching rugby league grow in Canterbury; the pathway program with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs giving players the option to make a career of the game they love; subsidising juniors to learn to swim.

“The CRL are reinvigorating that sense of community I remember as a child, as was clearly evidenced at the Grand Final Day last month. The turnout of clubs in their gears was phenomenal, the cheering was nearly deafening and the atmosphere was electric.

“We love what is happening with rugby league in Canterbury and we’re absolutely privileged to be along for the ride.”

Canterbury went winless in the 2023 NZRL National Women’s Premiership but won plenty of admirers for the heart they showed, never raising the white flag and staging a string of impressive second-half comebacks.

The foundation has been laid for the Trillo Metals Canterbury Bulls Women’s team’s rise up the provincial ranks in 2024, with their Premiership schedule getting underway against Wellington Orcas at Ngā Puna Wai this Sunday, September 8 (2pm kick-off).

EXCITING, BALANCED TRILLO METALS WOMEN’S CANTERBURY BULLS SQUAD NAMED FOR NZRL PREMIERSHIP CAMPAIGN

Meanwhile, the Trillo Metals Canterbury Bulls Men’s quest to regain a place in the Premiership begins with a road trip to Wingham Park on Saturday to take on West Coast Chargers in the opening round of the South Island Men’s Championship.

“The words that really come to mind when I think about [Trillo Metals’ name being on the Bulls’ jerseys] are humbled and honoured,” Trillo enthuses.

“I’m proud of how the Canterbury Women’s team fought until the very end in every game last season; I’m humbled and honoured they did it with our name across their chest.

“And I know both teams will be playing with the same sense of pride and passion for our region this season. So yeah, it’s very humbling and an honour for us to have our name on the jersey.”

CRL CEO Malcolm Humm extended Canterbury Rugby League’s gratitude towards Trillo Metals Ltd for their ongoing and increased backing of the region’s elite teams.

“We are very grateful to Spencer Trillo and his team at Trillo Metals for their support to our Men’s and Women’s Canterbury Bulls teams,” Humm said.

“Their support allows CRL to deliver quality campaigns and provide our senior representative teams with the support they require.

“For the coaches and players to know that that Trillo Metals have their back means a lot to them each time they run onto the field.”

RETURNING STARS, EXCITING NEWCOMERS FEATURE IN CANTERBURY BULLS 2024 MEN’S SQUAD

Get in touch with Trillo Metals Ltd for your metal recycling requirements and solutions in Canterbury and Marlborough, or if producing scrap metal is a by-product of your business.

They offer a free bin service, pick-ups from your location and drop-offs at their yards in Middleton (Ph: 03 348 0609) and Blenheim (Ph: 03 578 0340) – it’s metal recycling made easy.

“We love supporting the CRL and sponsoring rugby league teams and clubs where we can, but it does come at a significant cost,” Trillo adds.

“All we hope is that if you have a business or work somewhere that has metal recycling needs, reach out to us. The more you support us, the more we can support rugby league in Canterbury – and that way we all win!”