M.J. Bale has extended its partnership with Rugby Australia for a further four years, remaining the Official Tailor of the Wallabies through to at least the end of 2029. That makes this year the beginning of the ninth season together - eight years of dressing men built for contact in cloth built for character.

As the Wallabies line up to face Ireland in their first Test of the season, it is also Joe Schmidt’s final three Tests in charge. Over the years we’ve enjoyed great relationships with Wallaby coaches, but ‘Schmidty’ is a special one. A genuinely humble human being, he gave everyone here at M.J. Bale much more than the time of day in every interaction we had with him. We secretly reckon he loved trying on all the different Wallaby uniform options, to the point we have promised him his own shoot in a studio when he retires. He also left us this word of advice for preparing to face life’s big moments: “When you’re in a fight and you find it hard going, you haven’t done the work. Own the little one percenters, and the outcome takes care of itself.”

To mark the renewed partnership, they’re launching their Naturally Rugged campaign - fronted by three of the Wallabies’ most compelling characters: halfback Tate McDermott, flyhalf Carter Gordon, and lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto. The campaign goes back to first principles: the Wallabies have always come from hard places, a country that doesn’t give anything away easily. So has our wool. Both are shaped by rugged country into something better.

“Integrity and character matter deeply to both organisations,” says M.J. Bale Founder and CEO Matt Jensen. “These men represent the best of this country on the field — and off it, they’ll wear Australian Merino wool, the finest natural fibre we produce, grown right here on home soil.”

Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh echoes the sentiment. “Just as our players hold the gold jersey in the highest regard on the pitch, they take immense pride in maintaining the same elite standard off the field,” he says. “Matt and his team have been tremendous supporters of the Wallabies for a long time.”

A centrepiece of the extended agreement will be a special edition suit in 2027, ensuring the team is dressed for the most significant sporting event on the global calendar. But that’s next year. For now, Ireland. And eight years’ worth of reasons to look the part.