The Cornish Biltong Co, run by Rupert Freestone, is one of the main kit sponsors for Launceston Rugby Club, and is also advertising in the club programme and fixtures booklet.
Cornish All Blacks player Rupert set up the business in 2016/17 with his fellow CABs player Levent (Fred) Bulut, starting as a hobby until 2019 when things started to get a little more serious. With Fred leaving the business to focus on his teaching career, Rupert took the reins and started driving the business forward, with an emphasis on building the brand.
In May 2021, Rupert decided to focus on the business full-time, and the Cornish Biltong Co now supplies a number of local retailers such as delis, farm shops, bars, gyms and cafes, as well as having a successful e-commerce platform - www.cornishbiltong.co.uk
Rupert’s aim for 2022 is to extend this to major retail listings and to continue building the Biltong empire.
Rupert said: “I’m immensely proud to be supporting the club both from a playing perspective, and from a sponsorship one. I played all of my age group rugby at Launceston, and had dreamed of playing for the 1st XV from a young age. But when I finished school I got the opportunity to play professionally with Plymouth which was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. I then moved to Bristol and spent a year with Bristol Rugby - now the Bears of course - before ending up in London with Championship side Richmond.
“After 10 years of playing professionally my fiancée and I decided to return to Cornwall and by chance have ended up back in Launceston – knowing so many of the boys and the coaches, it was a lure too strong and so here I am putting the boots on again. Naturally it made sense to get involved on the sponsorship side of things too so here we are!”
