Ineos Group dropped its sponsorship of New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team as part of cost-savings measures in face of difficult trading conditions in Europe’s chemicals industry, the company said.

New Zealand Rugby has launched legal action against the Ineos corporation of British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe after the global chemical giant dropped a sponsorship agreement with three months remaining.

The petrochemical company, which owns a minority stake in Manchester United, allegedly cut short a long-term sponsorship deal.

A former All Black who questioned the partnership says Ineos deserves to be in legal strife for failing to honour its sponsorship deal with New Zealand Rugby. Chris Laidlaw was among 100 Kiwis to sign a public letter to New Zealand Rugby denouncing the All Blacks' sponsorship with the global petrochemical company.

New Zealand Rugby launches legal action against Manchester United owners INEOS for alleged breach of contract regarding a missed payment from £22m sponsorship deal; INEOS, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe,

New Zealand Rugby has taken legal action against Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe after his Ineos company allegedly backed out of their sponsorship agreement

Chemical producer INEOS has said it is in discussions with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) following the sport federation's decision to pursue legal action over a sponsorship dispute. NZR said on Tuesday that INEOS had breached their contract and failed to pay a sponsorship fee,

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) says it has launched legal action against Ineos for alleged breach of contract, saying the British petrochemicals company has walked away three years early from its sponsorship deal.