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he Canberra Raiders have announced their foundation sponsor, Canberra Milk, has reconfigured their partnership to become the Principal Sponsor of the club for 2021.

The Raiders were left without a front of jersey sponsor for the 2021 NRL Premiership season after Huawei decided to end their partnership early, but they have managed to re-negotiate their existing deal with Canberra Milk to fill the void.

Capitol Chilled Foods Australia managing director, Steve Ness, said with 2021 being the 50th anniversary of The Milk Authority of the ACT, the partnership change is perfectly timed.

“The Milk Authority of the ACT was established in 1971 so next year is our 50th anniversary, what better way to celebrate this than by returning our flagship brand Canberra Milk to the front of jersey of Canberra’s premier sporting team,” Ness said.

Raiders CEO, Don Furner, said it is highly likely the club will sign a new Principal Sponsor for the 2022 season onwards, but the club is grateful for Canberra Milk’s support for next season, with the club’s 2021 retail program set to roll out in the next couple of months.

“Since 1982, we have enjoyed a solid partnership with Canberra Milk which at all times has been based on mutual benefit, I have no doubt the 2021 jerseys and training apparel are going to be very well received by our members and fans,” Furner said.

Capitol Chilled Foods Australia is still yet to decide which of their brands will be displayed on the jersey and training apparel sleeve beyond the 2021 NRL season, with the company’s three prominent brands, Bega Cheese, Canberra Milk, and Dare Iced Coffee all having been exposed on the club’s jerseys over almost four decades of the partnership.

Raiders head coach, Ricky Stuart, also said the new jerseys show the strength of the partnership over almost 40 years.

“Next seasons apparel range is superb, when I heard about the discussions taking place and saw the garment artwork featuring the Canberra Milk logo, it brought a smile to my face,” Stuart said.

“It brings back some great memories,” he said.