Matatū partner with PURE Sports Nutrition to support performance and recovery
Matatū is proud to announce a new partnership with PURE Sports Nutrition, who join the club as the official and exclusive energy gel and supplements partner. The partnership sees PURE support Matatū athletes with high-quality, trusted fuel to help them perform, recover and prepare at the highest level.
Matatū General Manager Sarah Munro says the partnership is an exciting step forward for the club.
“High performance sport asks a lot of our athletes, not just on game day, but in how they prepare, train and recover week to week.
Having PURE alongside us means our players have access to products we trust to support their bodies through that entire cycle. Recovery is a huge part of what we do, and this partnership allows us to keep raising the standard of how we look after our athletes. We also love how PURE is a local Christchurch company, based in the South Island with locally sourced ingredients where possible and manufactured locally too.”
PURE Co-Founder Marewa Sutherland says the alignment between the two organisations made the partnership a natural fit.
“We’re incredibly excited to partner with Matatū because they represent everything we value in high performance sport – commitment, resilience, teamwork and a genuine drive to be better every day.
Matatū has quickly established itself as a team that inspires both on and off the field, and we’re proud to play a role in supporting the athletes with the nutrition they need to perform at their best.”
Munro says the impact of quality nutrition extends well beyond performance alone.
“When you’re operating in a high performance environment, the margins are small. Nutrition and recovery aren’t extras, they’re essential,” says Munro.
“PURE helps us ensure our athletes can train harder, recover quicker and stay consistent across a demanding season, which ultimately gives us the best chance to perform.”
The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to the continued growth of women’s rugby in New Zealand.
Sutherland says the timing felt right to invest in the women’s game.
“Women's sport continues to go from strength to strength, and we're seeing more athletes, teams and fans recognising the importance of performance nutrition,” says Sutherland.
“As a New Zealand company, we're passionate about supporting the growth of sport at every level, and partnering with Matatū is a natural extension of that commitment.”
That shared vision is something Munro believes will continue to strengthen the programme.
“There’s a real alignment in how both organisations view performance and wellbeing,” says Munro.
“We’re focused on developing athletes as whole people, and having a partner like PURE who understands that performance is built over time – through consistency, preparation and recovery – makes a real difference.”
Sutherland says it was the culture within Matatū that stood out most when exploring the partnership.
“What stood out immediately was the culture within the organisation. Matatū has built an environment centred around excellence, connection and developing great people alongside great athletes,” says Sutherland.
“Their professionalism, ambition and commitment to giving players every opportunity to succeed closely mirrors the way we approach our own business and the partnerships we choose.”
At the elite level, Sutherland says nutrition plays a critical role in unlocking performance.
“Athletes train exceptionally hard, so giving the body the right fuel before, during and after training and competition is essential,” says Sutherland.
“Good sports nutrition supports energy, recovery and consistency, allowing athletes to train harder, recover faster and perform at their highest level when it matters most.”
Through the partnership, PURE Sports Nutrition will play a key role in supporting Matatū athletes across training and competition, helping fuel performance while investing in the future of women’s rugby.