02 Extend England Rugby Sponsorship

O2 today announced it has extended its contract with the RFU to continue as the official sponsor of England Rugby for a further four years.

England team
The £4millon a season deal between O2 and the RFU will be visually reflected through O2’s extensive kit sponsorship of all fifteen-a-side England men’s teams including the senior team, the Saxons as well as the U20s, U18s and U16s. For the first time O2 will also sponsor the England women’s rugby team who are the current European Champions as well as being the RBS 6 Nations champions three years running.

It will also further establish O2 as the exclusive telecommunications provider to both the RFU and individual England squad members and provides an extensive package of rights including ticketing and hospitality at matches.

O2 Rugby Content
The new deal will continue to give O2 player access rights on both a squad and individual player level, to enable the creation of unique mobile content for customers over the next four years.

Branding and O2 Experiences
The sponsorship will provide O2 with extended rights to build a greater brand presence at Twickenham both through stadium advertising and by facilitating better O2 customer experiences.

Ronan Dunne, CEO of O2 UK,

From a brand perspective the partnership with England Rugby provides us not only with great visibility but also allows us to create unrivalled mobile content and experiences for O2 customers.

O2 want to spread the positive messages about rugby union to a wider audience and their support of the Go Play Rugby and Play On campaigns ensure that we have regular contact with our supporters and expose the sport to potential new players and fans. They have been an outstanding sponsor over a number of years and they are the epitome of a company that believes in brand building and the longevity of its key business relationships.

This long term partnership is one of the longest running sports sponsorships and has been extremely successful in raising O2’s brand exposure and awareness with this sponsorship creating 27% brand awareness. It also helps to build brand affinity through delivering unique VIP offers and experiences for O2 customers.

Renewed Sponsorship for Wales Rugby

Rugby regions the Cardiff Blues and the Ospreys have announced lucrative new shirt sponsorship deals.

The Ospreys confirmed it has renewed a shirt sponsorship deal with energy company npower for the coming season, as part of a £700,000 investment package from businesses into the region.

The green energy developer and operator reaffirmed its backing for the club [for the fourth year] with a one year deal valued at £180,000 – the largest individual sponsorship in Welsh regional rugby.

The Ospreys said the deal formed part of a sponsorship package worth £700,000.

The rest of the funding comes from secondary sponsors Persimmon Homes, Worthingtons, John West Foods, Cuddy Group, Trade Centre Wales, Trade Depot, Solo Cleaning and Taylors Regional Foods who have all agreed to extend their relationship with the Ospreys – whilst the region has secured new sponsorship deals with Fujitsu, 4U Recruitment and Land Rover.

Paul Cowling managing director of npower renewables said: “As we enter our fourth year as primary sponsors of the Ospreys we look forward to building on the broad range of community initiatives that already exist due our sponsorship.

“Our association with the Ospreys represents our ongoing commitment to communities in South Wales, and countless local groups and organisations have already benefited as a direct result of our sponsorship.

Rivals Cardiff Blues has signed a main team sponsorship deal with technology venture company EADS Defence and Security.

The company, which employs 1.200 in Newport, has entered in a one year undisclosed sponsorship deal with the professional rugby region,.

EADS DS vice president Mike Simms said: "We are proud to support the Cardiff Blues. The rugby team is an important part of community life in the capital city and the wider region.

"Teaming up with Cardiff Blues is a great move for a world class knowledge-led company like ours. Skill, innovation, commitment and teamwork are essential to succeed in business and rugby.