Actor, ad man and entrepreneur Ryan Reynolds is taking on a new sports venture, this time with friend and co-star in numerous films, Hugh Jackman. (They’ve starred in “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Ordinary Magic” and “Free Guy,” among others). 

Today they announced they have joined forces as new co-owners of Australia’s freshly rebranded SailGP team: the Bonds Flying Roos.   

In a statement, the duo said, “We’re incredibly excited to set sail together in this new adventure. Hugh brings a deep love for and pride in his home country as well as being an avid fan of sailing. He will also be bringing his overly clingy emotional support human along for the ride [That would be Reynolds]. Apologies in advance to Australia. No comment on whether we’re writing this in our Bonds. No further questions.”  

Underwear maker Bonds is the first-ever title sponsor of the sailing team. The Australian brand entered the U.S. market earlier this year, backed with the launch campaign, “Made For Down Under,” and featuring conservationist Robert Irwin and singer-song writer Tkay Maidza. 

Founded in 2019 by Sir Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison, SailGP pits 12 national crews in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans.  Australia has owned the leaderboard with three championships in four seasons, “and now embarks on a new chapter aimed at super-charging fan engagement far beyond the dock,” according to a release announcing Reynolds and Jackman’s signing on.  

Reynolds, founder of ad agency Maximum Effort, and Jackman join driver, CEO, and co-owner Tom Slingsby in leading the three-time champions. The Bonds Flying Roos SailGP team will make their official debut under their new name and ownership at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 7-8. 

For Reynolds, it’s his second recent foray into the sports area.  He along with Rob McElhenney bought the Wrexham AFC soccer team in November 2020 and in just four years helped the team make a storied rise from the fifth tier to the second tier in English soccer, just one tier away from the top level, known as the Premier League. That story is chronicled in the docuseries “Welcome To Wrexham.”