XBlades Sports Australia: AFL, NRL provider in voluntary administration

Australian sporting apparel brand XBlades, which kits out some of the country’s biggest sports stars, has gone into voluntary administration and is looking for a new owner.

Cronulla Sharks players from 2018 Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Matt Moylan and Wade Graham with their XBlades football boots at Shark Park, Cronulla. Picture: Brett Costello

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The sporting apparel company which provides boots for some of the AFL and NRL’s biggest stars has gone into voluntary administration.

XBlades Sports Australia appointed Worrells Solvency Accountants to take over their affairs on October 22 and bosses are now seeking buyers or investors to bail out the troubled sporting giant.

XBlades sponsors the Cronulla Sharks and St George Illawarra Dragons and kits out stars such as supplies boots to NRL stars such as St George’s Ben Hunt and Tyson Frizell as well as West Tigers’ Luciano and Joey Leilua.

Ben Hunt of the Dragons (front) is an XBlades wearer. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

The Aussie multinational corporation also supplies boots to the likes of Brisbane Lions’ Oscar McInerney, Freemantle Dockers’ Luke Ryan and Melbourne Demons’ Sam Weideman and AFLW star Tait Mackrill of the GWS Giants.

The company, which is based in Mount Waverley, Melbourne, also provides apparel for fans of the Dragons, Giants and Waratahs.
The sporting footwear and apparel maker, which is under the appointment of Simon Cathro and Ivan Glavas, is continuing to trade under the control of the administrators.

In a file photo from 2018, Cronulla Sharks players Andrew Fifita, Paul Gallen, Matt Moylan and Wade Graham with their XBlades football boots at Shark Park, Cronulla. Picture: Brett Costello

“We are optimistic that the sale campaign will generate significant interest in the business.” Mr Cathro said.

“The objectives of the voluntary administration regime should provide the company with the ‘breathing space’ required to undertake a restructure aimed at securing the best possible outcome for all parties, including its employees, creditors and customers through either a sale of business and/or a Deed of Company Arrangement.”

Oscar McInerney of the Lions (right) compete during the AFL 2nd Preliminary Final match between the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats. Picture: Jono Searle

The first meeting of creditors will be held on November 5 with a second meeting to follow within the month.

Mr Cathro said it is at the second meeting that creditors will determine the future of the XBlades brand.

He said Worrells appreciates the impact the appointment has on affected parties and it will continue to proactively communicate at each juncture of the administration.

Any parties that wish to indicate their interest in investing or purchasing the business are invited to contact [e-mail]

News Corp has reached out to XBlades for comment but they did not immediately respond.