Emirates Becomes Official Partner of 2015 & 2019 Rugby World Cups

Emirates has been announced as a official Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) have announced today.

The deal also features an extension to Emirates’ successful sponsorship and support of the IRB match officials until 2019, including rights to match official shirts for both Rugby World Cups, representing a first for Rugby’s global showcase event.

The announcement extends their partnership originally created in 2006 and ensures that Emirates has enjoyed a significant global platform at every Rugby World Cup since 2007.

RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We are excited to be renewing our long-standing and highly-successful partnership with Emirates. Emirates is a strong champion of Rugby worldwide and the reappointment of a globally renowned brand and a world leader in the airline industry further underscores the enormous prestige of Rugby World Cup in the global sporting and business marketplaces.”

“We look forward to collaborating with Emirates to further the promotion of Rugby around the world through the Rugby World Cup partnership and support of our match officials as the sporting community looks forward to what promises to be an exceptional England 2015 tournament and an historic first Rugby World Cup in Japan.”

As Official Airline of Rugby World Cup 2015 and 2019 and IRB match officials’ sponsor Emirates will work closely with Rugby World Cup and the IRB to further the promotion, participation and engagement in Rugby worldwide.

RWCL Managing Director Brett Gosper added: “This deal represents the largest and most wide-ranging sponsorship deal in the history of Rugby World Cup. We are well on track to secure and announce the full Rugby World Cup 2015 commercial programme in record time, which is great for the tournament and great for Rugby at a time when the sport is experiencing unprecedented global profile, participation and commercial appeal.”

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said: “Rugby is a core part of Emirates’ sports sponsorship portfolio. We’ve supported Rugby around the world for more than 20 years, and we are glad to have helped connect hundreds of thousands of passionate Rugby fans from around the globe through these events. Rugby is an international sport that reaches an international audience, many of whom are Emirates customers.”

“The 2011 tournament in New Zealand was the most widely-broadcast Rugby World Cup ever, and we anticipate the next two Rugby World Cups will only be more spectacular. For Emirates, it was a natural decision to be the first Worldwide Partner of both the England and Japan tournaments, and as Official Airline we look forward to flying fans to experience the event for themselves.”

The announcement follows the appointment of Heineken, Land Rover, Société Générale and DHL as Rugby World Cup 2015 Worldwide Partners, Gilbert as Official Ball Supplier, Canterbury of New Zealand as Official Sportswear Supplier and Clifford Chance as Official Law Firm.

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