Gilbert Rugby email gallery from real brands
1. Eddy, here's your week 1 RWC 2023 Round up!
Objective
This email aims to engage rugby fans by recapping Week 1 results of the Rugby World Cup 2023 while driving product interest through themed merchandise tied to upcoming matches. It blends sports storytelling with commerce to convert fan excitement into sales.
Why this works
The email brilliantly ties real-time sports momentum to product relevance by pairing each upcoming match with its corresponding flag and supporter balls, making fans feel like they’re buying into the story, not just merchandise.
How to implement
By leading with a personalized, conversational subject line and opening greeting, the brand creates immediate emotional resonance, making the recipient feel like they’re getting an exclusive insider update rather than a generic promotional blast.
Pro Tip
Add a sticky CTA button or banner near the top that says 'Shop All RWC 2023 Balls' to reduce scroll friction, fans excited after reading results should be able to convert immediately without hunting through multiple match sections. • Include a short testimonial or social proof snippet under the video section like 'Over 10,000 fans watched our chat with Cheslin Kolbe, don’t miss the next one!' to boost credibility and encourage social channel follow-through.
2. LAUNCHED. The Official RWC 2023 Opening Match Ball
Objective
This email aims to drive immediate purchases of the newly launched Official Rugby World Cup 2023 Opening Match Ball by Gilbert, leveraging urgency and exclusivity while cross-selling related merchandise to fans of specific teams like New Zealand and France.
Why this works
The email brilliantly ties product launch timing to a major global event, Rugby World Cup 2023, creating instant relevance and emotional resonance with fans who want to own a piece of the tournament’s history through the official match ball.
How to implement
By segmenting product recommendations into ‘Team All Blacks?’ and ‘Team France?’, the campaign personalizes the shopping experience without requiring user data, making fans feel seen and increasing the likelihood of conversion through tribal identity.
Pro Tip
Add a countdown timer near the CTA to reinforce urgency around the limited stock and first 50 orders for the free inflatable ball, creating psychological pressure to act immediately rather than later. • Include a small testimonial or quote from a player or coach about the ball’s performance to build social proof and credibility, especially for serious players who prioritize quality over fandom.
3. Your Ultimate Headguard Guide | RWC 2023
Objective
This email aims to educate rugby players on selecting the right headguard while subtly promoting Gilbert’s trusted, pro-approved gear, leveraging the Rugby World Cup 2023 momentum to drive product interest and guide users toward purchasing decisions.
Why this works
By anchoring the email in the excitement of Rugby World Cup 2023 and featuring elite players wearing their gear, Gilbert instantly builds credibility and emotional resonance, making the product feel essential rather than optional.
How to implement
The email brilliantly blends education with promotion by positioning the headguard guide as a decision-making tool, subtly guiding users toward product pages without aggressive sales language, which enhances trust and reduces friction.
Pro Tip
Add a countdown timer or match-day reminder near the RWC schedule to create urgency and encourage immediate engagement with the headguard guide before key games. • Reposition the primary CTA 'HEADGUARDS GUIDE >>' higher in the email or duplicate it after the player testimonials to reinforce the conversion path without forcing users to scroll too far.
4. New Balls | Up to 40% off for Pre-Season 🏉
Objective
This email aims to drive pre-season equipment purchases by offering tiered bulk discounts to rugby clubs, while also promoting limited-edition collectibles to create urgency and brand loyalty among enthusiasts.
Why this works
The email brilliantly frames the discount as a club-wide benefit, using tiered spending thresholds to encourage larger orders while making the savings feel personalized and achievable for teams of all sizes.
How to implement
By embedding a mobile-optimized buyers guide directly into the flow, the campaign reduces friction for new or uncertain buyers, turning educational content into a conversion engine without disrupting the shopping momentum.
Pro Tip
Add a countdown timer under the 'Limited Edition – Final Few Remaining!' section to visually reinforce scarcity and nudge immediate action, especially since the email targets time-sensitive pre-season purchasing. • Reposition the 'BUYERS GUIDE' CTA to appear immediately after the product grid section, rather than mid-flow, to avoid interrupting the product discovery momentum and better serve users ready to decide.
5. Here's your RWC 2023 WK2 Round-up!🏉
Objective
This email aims to engage rugby fans by recapping Week 2 of the Rugby World Cup 2023 while driving immediate sales through a time-sensitive discount on country-themed flag balls and promoting exclusive RWC 2023 merchandise. It blends sports excitement with commerce to convert fan enthusiasm into purchases.
Why this works
The email brilliantly ties real-time sports excitement to product promotion by using the RWC 2023 Week 2 results as a hook, making the offer feel timely and emotionally resonant with fans who are already invested in the tournament’s momentum.
How to implement
By featuring country-specific flag balls with a clear discount code and expiration date, the campaign creates urgency while allowing fans to express national pride through purchase, turning merchandise into a personal and patriotic statement rather than just a transaction.
Pro Tip
Add a countdown timer next to the 'EXPIRES: 25-09-23' text to visually reinforce urgency and increase conversion pressure, especially since the offer is time-bound and tied to a live sporting event. • Include a brief testimonial or social proof quote from a fan or player near the product grid to build trust and validate the quality of the RWC 2023 balls, especially for high-ticket items like the Chairman’s Leather Ball.
6. Eddy, want to own a RWC 2023 Opening Match Ball? 🏉
Objective
This email aims to drive immediate purchases of the official Rugby World Cup 2023 Opening Match Ball by leveraging urgency, national team pride, and a limited-time free gift offer. It targets fans and collectors who want to own a piece of tournament history while creating emotional resonance through team-specific product sections.
Why this works
The email brilliantly taps into fan identity by segmenting product grids for 'Team All Blacks' and 'Team France,' turning a generic product launch into a personalized, emotionally charged experience that speaks directly to national pride and tribal loyalty.
How to implement
By pairing the launch of a high-value collectible with a time-sensitive freebie, the RWC 2023 Inflatable, the campaign creates irresistible perceived value, making the purchase feel like a win-win and reducing friction for hesitant buyers.
Pro Tip
Add a small countdown timer or stock counter beneath the 'I WANT IT!' CTA to reinforce scarcity and urgency, since the email mentions 'limited stock' but doesn’t visually quantify it near the point of conversion. • Include a short testimonial or social proof snippet, such as 'Over 5,000 fans have already claimed their match ball', near the offer section to build trust and reduce perceived risk for first-time buyers.
7. Scoring the Perfect Pair: Eddy's Rugby Boot Guide! 👟
Objective
This email aims to guide the recipient, Eddy, through selecting the ideal rugby boots for the upcoming season by offering a personalized buyer’s guide and showcasing top-performing models. It also promotes complementary gear and Rugby World Cup 2023 exclusives to drive conversion and brand engagement.
Why this works
The email opens with a personalized greeting and immediately addresses the recipient’s likely intent, finding new boots, creating instant relevance and guiding them into a helpful, educational journey rather than a hard sell.
How to implement
By positioning each boot model with a distinct performance benefit, like ‘pinnacle of performance’ or ‘most powerful ever’, the email transforms product specs into compelling emotional and functional narratives that resonate with serious players.
Pro Tip
Add a countdown timer or limited-availability tag to the RWC 2023 exclusives section to create urgency and incentivize immediate action, especially since event-based merchandise thrives on time-sensitive appeal. • Reposition the ‘Rugby Boots Guide’ CTA button higher in the email, perhaps directly under the hero image, to reduce friction for users seeking guidance before browsing products, improving conversion flow.