Extreme Performers
Beauden Barrett Joins Defender As Ambassador To Launch New Defender OCTA
Defender has named Beauden Barrett, one of the most decorated players in international rugby, as its latest brand ambassador.
The announcement marks the New Zealand launch of Defender OCTA, the toughest and most dynamically capable Defender ever made.
Filmed in locations significant to Barrett’s life – including Taranaki Stadium, Arawhata Road, and farmland along the Tongapōrutu coastline – the content draws powerful parallels between his rugby roots and the relentless capability of Defender OCTA.
From school fields to gravel roads at the foot of the maunga, the campaign honours Beauden’s journey and the power of Defender’s most advanced vehicle yet.
Beauden Barrett, international rugby player, said: “It’s a real privilege to bring this partnership to life at home in Taranaki – where I grew up, and where my love for rugby started. Defender is built for performance and purpose, and those values really resonate with me."
Defender OCTA is the brand’s most powerful model to date, equipped with a 4.4-litre Twin Turbo mild-hybrid V8 engine and capable of 0–60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Its advanced suspension, enhanced durability and dynamic engineering make it ready for New Zealand’s toughest terrain – while still offering the refinement expected from a Defender.
Ben Montgomery, General Manager, JLR New Zealand, said: “Beauden is the perfect ambassador for Defender. He represents the same values that define the brand: resilience, humility, and the drive to go beyond.”
Defender has supported rugby globally for over a decade, including as Worldwide Partner of the Rugby World Cup since 2011.
The Barrett partnership reinforces this commitment and shines a spotlight on the sport’s grassroots origins, where talent is shaped by community, environment, and hard work.