Unilever is splashing out almost £7m on a marketing push after extending its Dove Men+Care range into face care.

The brand will be sponsoring a number of rugby tournaments across the UK and Ireland next year and will be launching a campaign including TV, press and in-store activity.

Comprising 15 SKUs ranging from shaving products to cleansers and moisturisers (rsp: £3.49 to £8.99), the face care line-up will be rolled into supermarkets next month following a soft launch in Boots this summer. They will join the Dove Men+Care shower and deodorant products launched in 2010.

“Many men are stealing wives’ or partners’ products,” said Unilever.