The officially licensed images which currently appear on t-shirts for both adults and children and drinking mugs are the brainchild of Cardiff-based Welshman Jon Phillips (36), founder and designer of Oddgods, who secured the contract following support from the Welsh Government’s business support service, Business Wales.
Phillips, an avid rugby fan and a graphic designer, has been granted official status as a WRU licensee for a two-year period, after first deciding to design a t-shirt tribute to his favourite player, Adam Jones, at a Six Nations game he attended in 2005.
The response from the general public was so overwhelmingly positive, that Mr Phillips launched the Oddgods brand the following year and the company now produces a unique range of merchandise featuring a series of much-loved Welsh rugby characters on officially licensed products.
“The WRU is proud to be stocking the Oddgods range of products in its flagship store on Westgate street in Cardiff and online at http://store.wru.co.uk,” said a WRU spokesperson.
“The caricatures are a wonderful concept and we expect them to really capture the imagination of rugby fans, especially over the Christmas period.
“The artwork shows some of Welsh rugby’s biggest stars in a whole new light and is sure to appeal to the child in all of us.”
Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Mike Phillips and Sam Warbuton are just some of the players to have received the Oddgods treatment alongside Jones, Roberts and Faletau and there are plans to further expand the range and brand.
“This is certainly the biggest milestone for the Oddgods brand as, by being an official WRU Licensee, we will be able to access new audiences and raise the profile and credibility of the brand, especially as the national team builds towards the Rugby World Cup next year,” said Mr Phillips.
“I wanted to do it properly and work with the WRU. The support I have received from Business Wales throughout this process has been invaluable and, without this support, I genuinely believe I would not have secured the contract with the WRU.
“Business Wales helped me to formulate a detailed business plan with which I could approach the WRU, as well as with copyright and royalty challenges.
“I would certainly look to Business Wales for support in the future, especially as I am keen to expand with other rugby unions and international markets. I am also planning to expand more generally to capture other Welsh icons, as well as stars from other sports.”
Alex Basso, the business advisor at Business Wales who helped Jon pitch his idea to the WRU, commented: “I have really enjoyed working with Jon and helping his business grow from a side project alongside his existing design business, to becoming a valuable brand in its own right.
“Jon and Oddgods is a great example of how Business Wales can help someone to achieve their goals. Jon was always determined that Oddgods had huge potential and, despite encountering a number of difficulties along the way, the business now has a clear direction and I’m sure Jon will build on his success thus far.”
Business Wales is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. To find out how Business Wales can help develop your business, call 03000 6 03000, follow @_businesswales or visit www.business.wales.gov.uk or www.busnes.cymru.gov.uk for further information.
For more information on Oddgods visit http://oddgods.co.uk
