A SPORTSWEAR company has agreed a £25,000 sponsorship deal with Darlington Rugby Club.

The three-year deal with Norwich-based Samurai International Sportswear, which runs the club shop, takes to £125,000 the value of recent sponsorship deals.

The club, based at Blackwell Meadows, signed a five-year £100,000 deal with Scottish and Newcastle Breweries in March.

Under the deal with Samurai, the company will also provide a set of 22 playing shirts, shorts and socks, and a team kit bag, for the first team squad.

That offer will be matched by Martin Young, owner of Rugby Kit Solutions, for junior sides.

Club chairman Bill Jones said: "The fact that we have been able to secure these deals shows that, despite our relegation last season, companies are still prepared to place faith in our ability to succeed."

The rugby club is holding a business open day, for local companies, on Monday. Call 01325-363777 for details.