SUFFOLK-based turf maintenance equipment manufacturer Ransomes Jacobsen has signed an agreement to supply machinery to maintain the pitch at Twickenham, the home of English rugby.

Ransomes Jacobsen, based in Ipswich and part of the United States-based group Textron Inc, has signed a “preferred supplier” deal with the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for Rugby Union in England and owner of the Twickenham stadium.

A fleet of new equipment has now been delivered to head groundsman Keigh Kent as a result of the deal, supplied by the local Esher branch of Ransomes Jacobsen dealer Ernest Doe & Sons, which is based at Ulting, near Maldon, and also has branches across East Anglia.

Among the items supplied are three Ransomes Matador walk-behind movers, specially adpated with high height-of-cut adjustment to suit the needs of rugby, and a Jacobsen TR3 ride-on driple mower with grass catchers.

The order also included an E-Z-GO MPT electric utility vehicle, also part of the Textron range of brands, and three Iseki tractors, for which Ernest Doe is also a dealer.

Keith Kent said: “I’ve been very impressed and pleased with the performance of the equipment. The Matadors are particularly impressive and, with the height of cut adaptor, they are performing really well

“I’ve also been hugely impressed with the level of support from both the people at Ransomes in Ipswich and the team from Ernest Doe; it’s been second to none.

“We’ve been given the tools to ensure that can maintain the best rugby pitch in the world to the exacting standard demanded by the RFU and the England players,” he added.

Nick Brown, corporate account manager at Ransomes Jacobsen, said: “We are delighted with the signing of this preferred supplier agreement and see it as a long term business relationship, not only with Keith and his team, but also the RFU in general. We’ve had a similar agreement with the Scottish Rugby Union at Murrayfield for many years and look forward to similar longevity with the relationship at Twickenham.”

n Other brands in the Textron group include Bell Helicopter and Cessna Aircraft.