USN Latest News
GOLDEN LIONS CHOOSE USN AS NUTRITION PARTNER
As part of their quest to become one of the world’s leading provincial sides, the Golden Lions professional rugby team have chosen USN as their official nutrition supplement partner.
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The new Golden Lions kit for the 2011 Super 15 tournament was unveiled
on Thursday. |
Once a major force in southern hemisphere rugby, the Golden Lions spent the past few years in the bottom half of the Super 14 and Currie Cup logs. But during the second half of 2010 they began a much-needed revival, which saw them regain a measure of credibility when they became contenders for Currie Cup title.
They also changed their nutrition strategy, placing their trust in USN, South Africa’s leading sports nutrition supplement brand.
“The Golden Lions players began using USN supplements towards the end of 2010 as part of the union’s strategy to bring the team to the forefront of sports nutrition,” said Rion Goosen, USN National Sponsorship Manager. “They wanted to take the USN partnership forward and we liked the idea of joining them in their quest to return to the top.”
“USN is a leader in sports nutrition and the successes of the three-time PSL champions, SuperSport United and the Blue Bulls rugby team over the past few years are testament to USN’s understanding of the energy and recovery demands of professional team sport. We are looking forward to transferring this to the Golden Lions.”
On Thursday MTN announced its title sponsorship of the Golden Lions and the new kit for the upcoming Super 15 tournament was revealed. The jersey includes USN branding on the collar.
SPIES FOCUSSES ON NUTRITION FOR IMPROVED WORLD CUP CONDITION
Pierre Spies has teamed up with the Research and Development Department at USN, a leading international sports performance supplement company, in a collaborative effort to assist him in fine-tuning his physical performance in both training and match play in preparation for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The first choice No. 8 for the Springboks has unique physical attributes in that he has an exceptional combination of power, strength, speed and size. His impressive physical stature – he’s 1.94m tall, weighs 107kg, has 6% body fat and runs the 100 metres in 10.7 seconds – makes him an imposing figure that’s been an important factor for his teams in both provincial and international rugby.
“In the World Cup you cannot afford to have a bad game. You must deliver your best performance in every game and to do that, you have to be in supreme physical condition. I don’t believe I’ve achieved my physical potential yet and will work closely with USN’s scientific nutrition experts to optimise my nutrition to ensure I am at my best come the World Cup,” said Spies.
USN, a brand that has its roots in rugby, has, over the past 10 years, been placing increasing emphasis on performance nutrition to benefit rugby players. It is the chosen nutrition supplement partner of a number of rugby teams in South Africa, the United Kingdom and Ireland. USN also works closely with leading English clubs, Saracens and Sale Sharks as well as South Africa’s multiple championship-winning Blue Bulls provincial team; and also recently partnered with the Golden Lions provincial franchise.
“Our R&D team are constantly looking for opportunities to develop new performance products or improve on existing formulations,” explained USN chairman and founder, Albe Geldenhuys. “They rely on feedback from professional athletes and in Pierre, we have an extraordinary athlete that comes with years of performance data, which will be extremely beneficial in our explosive and team sports supplements category.”
For Spies, nutrition supplementation has been an important part of his daily routine since the age of 17.
“I first began using USN supplements at school and found them to be extremely effective in terms of muscle development, giving me energy for training and matches and faster muscle recovery. I have never had a reason to change to another brand as the quality has always been of a premium standard. And when I joined the Bulls franchise, which chooses USN as its nutrition supplement brand, I was introduced to even more products in the USN range as well as the correct way to use them.”
“For me, nutrition supplementation is huge. There is no way what we do as rugby players is normal. We ask an incredible amount of our bodies day after day and week after week. Using the relevant nutrition supplementation at the right time is essential for improvement,” said Spies, who at the age of 25 is only just reaching physical maturity.
“I use specific supplements before, during and after training and believe that many players don’t focus enough on recovery during and after exercise. Recovery is everything. If you don’t recover optimally, your performance and physical conditioning are guaranteed to go backwards, instead of benefitting from the exercise. It can ultimately lead to overtraining and that’s why at least a high quality recovery supplement is absolutely essential.”
Blue Bulls win the 2010 Super 14 title
For the second year in a row the Blue Bulls claim the title in the final of the Vodacom Super 14. Beating the Stormers 25-17 in Orlando Stadium on Saturday May 29th. Adding to the 2007 and 2009 Super 14 titles the Bulls already have they are now second in the all time Super 14 title winners list (second only to the Crusaders).
Congratulations from all at USN
Bulls vs Stormers - Super 14 Final
The Blue Bulls won the last ever Super 14 by beating the Stormers 25-17 in the 2010 final after leading 16-3 at half time.
The Stormers outscored the Bulls by two tries to one but Morne Steyn kicked six penalties and kept the Bulls in front throughout the match.
The Bulls led 16-3 at half time after scoring the first points of the match with a penalty by Steyn in the ninth minute.
The Stormers looked to have scored the first try of the match when Schalk Burger reached forward and got the ball on the line in the eighteenth minute but instead a penalty was awarded to the Bulls as he was judged to have played the ball on the ground.
Six minutes later, man of the match Francois Hougaard darted through the Stormers defence and scored the Bulls’ only try of the match- giving the Bulls a comfortable lead.
The Bulls never looked like losing, aside from a brief spell 13 minutes into the second half after former Bulls star winger Bryan Habana scored a try for the Stormers, as they held a comfortable lead throughout thanks to Morne Steyn's five penalties.
Captain of the Stormers, Schalk Burger, said that he felt like they were playing under two sets of breakdown rules and they could not get any momentum.
Final Score: Bulls 25 - Stormers 17
Bulls
Tries - F Hougaard
Pen - M Steyn 6
Con - M Steyn
Stormers
Tries - B Habana, P Louw
Pen - P Grant
Con - P Grant 2
USN ‘Backs’ Saracens for new Season
2 September 2009
Saracens are delighted to announce that USN – the UK’s leading suppliers of nutritional health supplements - are to be the Club’s new Back of Shirt sponsor and the Official Nutrient Partner for the new 2009/2010 Guinness Premiership season kicking off at Twickenham on Saturday, September 5th at the London Double Header.
The initial introduction came from the players and the Saracens Strength and Conditioning team. This subsequently led to a five figure sponsorship and supply deal.
Scott Murphy, Saracens Strength and Conditioning Coordinator said: “Finding a way get to the top of the Premiership is a massive challenge. We look for any edge we can find.
"The only way forward is to train as hard as possible and to make sure that we maximize the returns from every session. That’s where supplementation becomes vital. When the opportunity to join with USN became available the Strength and Conditioning team jumped at the chance.
"They offered us products that are research based - in simple terms, they Work. Coupled with outstanding value for money and tasty products that the players actually enjoy consuming, we knew were on to a good thing.
"After concluding the pre-season we couldn't be happier, our fitness and strength testing scores were excellent and the injury rates are down. The mountain of work the players got through was made a lot more possible by USN products. We look forward to the season ahead and the continued partnership between Saracens and USN."
The USN logo will be positioned on the back of the first team playing shirt and USN products will be supplied to all Saracen teams.
Headquartered in South Africa, where USN supplements are part of the nation’s daily diet, the company is now looking to expand into the wider sport and fitness market in the UK.
“Our links with rugby are strong," said USN Director Jason Oakley. “We sponsor the Blue Bulls team in South Africa, Munster and Ireland hooker, Jerry Flannery. This is an exciting opportunity for us to support one of the top squads in the UK and develop a partnership that I am sure will deliver great benefits for both organizations both on and off the pitch.”
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Blue Bulls vs Chiefs - Super 14 Final
Blue Bull waves from all over the field, rocked the Chiefs in an unbelievable display to claim the 2009 Super 14 final with a record score of 61-17 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria on Saturday night.
In a game played at a cracking pace throughout, the Bulls, led by the talismanic Vitor Matfield, used their home team advantage well to run in eight tries to two by the hapless Chiefs who, while scoring first, were forced to play risky, catch-up football, with the attendant problems coming from fast passing and intercepted ball.
The Chiefs lineout rarely worked against a Bulls lineout controlled by Matfield that successfully contested many of the Chiefs' throws to reduce their prospects.
It was a disappointing end for the Chiefs who had caught the imagination with the spirit of their play but it was a deserved win for the South African side which dominated throughout the competition.
The Chiefs did manage to contain the dynamic home No.8 Pierre Spies for 73 minutes before his obligatory try, and reduce the drop-kicking threat of first five-eighths Morne Steyn, who still managed one in his 19-point haul.
But there was plenty more where they came from with halfback Fourie du Preez who was outstanding and flankers Deon Stegmann and Dewaldt Potgieter who were consistent in support.
Both teams made an electrifying start which belied the delayed opening as a result of lighting problems.
The Blue Bulls made a predictably strong start and hammered the Chiefs defences, and initially they held. After a kicking exchange between Chiefs first five-eighths Stephen Donald and Bulls fullback Zane Kirchner, Donald took the ball, easily beat the chasing Kirchner, and then fed inside when he reached the flying wing, Bryan Habana.
Wing Lelia Masaga was perfectly placed and sped out of lock Victor Matfield's despairing tackle and he raced in to open the scoring after six minutes.
But that advantage was immediately undone when No.8 Sione Lauaki got isolated and conceded the ball with Kirchner racing into the Chiefs 22m area and it was halfback Fourie Du Preez who picked the ball up and charged over in the tackle two minutes later.
From the re-start, and more kicking exchanges, the Chiefs attempted an encouraging breakout and got back towards halfway where hooker Aled de Malmanche was hit in a heavy tackle by flanker Deon Stegmann. The ball was turned over and Steyn flicked a pass to Du Preez and he raced down the vacant blind side to touchdown in the corner where Steyn made no mistake with a second conversion.
It got worse for the Chiefs a minute later when a turnover occurred when Tanerau Latimer lost the ball when tackled and the ball was spun where Kirchner kicked through for Habana to pick up and run 22m to score the third try after 14 minutes.
Steyn kicked a dropped goal after 21 minutes and then his 28th minute penalty goal gave the Blue Bulls a 27-7 lead.
Disaster struck right on halftime when the Chiefs were attempting to work the ball into position for a final assault. A pass was intercepted by Bryan Habana and he raced 50m to score the simplest of tries.
Much more confrontational running by the Chiefs forwards, and replacement hooker Hika Elliott and prop Faka'anaua Taumalolo provided the impetus which allowed fullback and captain Mils Muliaina to take an inpass from Donald on the 22m line and race in to score five minutes into the second half.
A harsh call by an assistant referee on prop James McGougan who was ruled to have impeded wing Akona Ndungane and Steyn landed a 48th minute penalty goal.
Donald responded soon after with a penalty goal to make the score 37-17.
But it was the Bulls who made the most of increasing dominance in the lineouts to make the play in the Chiefs 22m area and after 58 minutes, from a maul in the right corner, lock Victor Matfield took the ball and went over the top to touch down.
Second five-eighths Jaco Pretorius botched a chance when dropping the ball over the line as he attempted to touch down but centre Wynand Olivier made up for that after 67 minutes when capping some fine driving work and then with seven minutes left Spies intercepted a pass from halfback Toby Morland and raced 55m to score untouched.
And a penalty conceded on fulltime five metres from the Chiefs line resulted in Matfield taking the tap and feeding replacement forward Danie Rossouw touched down.
Bulls 61
Tries: Fourie Du Preez 2, Bryan Habana 2, Victor Matfield, Olivier, Pier Spies, Rossouw
Con: Morne Steyn 5, Francis
Pen: Morne Steyn 2
Dropped goal: Steyn
Chiefs 17
Tries: Masaga, Muliaina
Con: Donald 2
Pen: Donald
Victor Matfield and the Blue Bulls
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Galway Hurlers now on USN
Proper nutrition is key to a good performance and optimal recovery. With the help of USN supplements and hard work, Galway Hurlers hope to achieve just that.
USN would like to wish Galway Hurling a successful 2009.
Click here to see a list of
HURLING CÚL CAMPS 2009
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Hoops join forces with USN
| Thursday, 19 March 2009 13:45 |
Shamrock Rovers Football Club announces the appointment of USN as their official Sports Nutrition provider for the 2009 season.
Effective nutrition is now a critical element in the preparation and recovery of the modern footballer and Shamrock Rovers FC are delighted to be working with USN.
Commenting on the appointment Shamrock Rovers Manager Michael O’Neill said that “the demands and competitiveness of the modern game make sound nutrition critical in getting the most from the players. USN has a fantastic pedigree in supplying elite athletes all over the world and we are delighted to have them on board to support us in the season ahead”
Managing Director of USN, Tom Galvin commented that the company had looked to do more work in football and were delighted to be able to do it with Shamrock Rovers. Given the history and plans for the Club there could not be better team in the country to be associated with.
USN is a South African company whose Irish operations are based in Galway. They have worked with and developed sports nutrition products for leading athletes around the world including the Springbok rugby team. Products are developed in house and then manufactured in state of the art production facilities to rigorous quality standards.
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