Vibrating pleasure rings bearing branding similar to two provincial rugby teams are causing a stir.
The cheeky items, created by STA Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Engineering, feature either a blue bull or a shark on the packaging. They went on sale ahead of Saturday’s match.
However, Sean Armstrong, who is behind the concept, said the product was designed with tongue firmly in cheek.
“Some will laugh and some will take it the wrong way. It’s more about the novelty of the item than its actual use as a pleasure ring.”
On a possible trademark infringement, he said he hoped rugby bosses would see the humour in the rings, but his company was prepared for a legal battle if it boiled down to it.
After the much-publicised Tiger Woods sex scandal, Armstrong and his team capitalised on the hype by launching the Tiger’s Wood Pack, which contains condoms and sex enhancements.
“We had a legal battle then with Tiger’s law firm and if we have a similar situation with the rugby bosses, then we are prepared for that.”
Armstrong said sales had exceeded expectations and the first batch of Blouhoring and Shark Attack pleasure rings had sold out.
Sharks chief executive Brian van Zyl said that although he had not seen the items, he disapproved of them.
“All our licences are approved by Signet (licensing and marketing agent). But we would never, ever want the Sharks brand to be associated with something like that,” he said.
Blue Bulls chief executive Barend van Graan agreed, saying he would not want the franchise brand linked to pleasure rings.
“I don’t know anything about it yet, but I will look into it. We have got an agreement with Signet, who handle the licensing of our merchandise.”
Van Graan said all items representing the Bulls brand had to be cleared by the management. - Daily News