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.

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) has launched legal action against former sponsor INEOS for alleged breach of contract, saying the global chemicals producer had walked away from a six-year deal three years early.