Milliken, the UK-based manufacturer of Strachan billiard cloth, has increased its global reach and appointed Union Billiards as its new distributor for South Africa.

Owned by Rory Blake-Taylor, Union Billiards has served the cue sport market since 1954. It makes snooker, pool, billiard and poker tables and the Hurricane brand of foosball tables from its head office in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. With business partners in countries ranging from China to the US, this latest appointment brings to 24 Milliken’s international supplier network. In September snooker and other cue sports will be included in the All-African Games for the first time when they take place in Mozambique.

Milliken marketing director Duncan Kettell said: "Amateur snooker is now fully international and starting to provide new names to compete in the professional arena. It’s great to see the amateur game in such good health in many parts of the world and countries such as South Africa, India and Brazil have the potential to make a real impact on the expanding professional circuit."