New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has launched legal action against INEOS, the petrochemical company which owns a minority stake in Manchester United, after it allegedly cut short a long-term 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 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.