London Irish Welcomes Two Further Partners to Growing Sponsorship Portfolio

London Irish’s growing brand has been further boosted today by the announcement of two new commercial partners. 

Sports equipment supplier Centurion and apparel brand SKINS have both signed on for the 2014/15 season.

London Irish Commercial Director Jim O’Toole said: “Skins and Centurion have added significant value to our day to day rugby operations at our new Hazelwood Centre and we look forward to working with these two prestigious rugby brands across the season.”

In recent weeks London Irish have partnered with Leisure Lines and Star Trac, Upham Brewery, Howick, Etixx, Setanta Sports, iPro Sport, Gap Group, Volkswagen and Powerday. 

Wolf Blass Named Official Wine of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Australia

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have signed a partnership with Wolf Blass, which will become the Official Wine in Australia for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Based in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, Wolf Blass is one of Australia’s most well-known and celebrated wineries, with a long history of supporting the game of cricket in Australia.

As part of the partnership with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Wolf Blass products will be supplied at all venues in Australia.

Commenting on the announcement, Campbell Jamieson, ICC General Manager, Commercial, said: “As anticipation builds for Cricket World Cup 2015, the ICC is delighted to announce this new and exciting partnership with Wolf Blass. Wolf Blass has a worldwide reputable and established brand who share the ICC’s commitment to excellence. We believe that supporters will responsibly enjoy Wolf Blass products across all seven venues in Australia.”

Lisa Saunders, Treasury Wine Estates Marketing Director – Australia and New Zealand, said: “We are incredibly excited to be the official wine sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.”

“Wolf Blass has a fantastic history aligning to cricket and we’re looking forward to partnering with one of the biggest events on the 2015 sporting calendar.”

“This sponsorship will focus on the award winning range of Wolf Blass wines from Red Label, Yellow Label to Gold Label and above” she said.

Universal Sports and NBC to show Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup matches for the 2011 and 2015 tournaments will be televised by Universal Sports and NBC, ailment the International Rugby Board (IRB) has announced.

Matches for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand and 2015 tournament in England will now be shown by US network television for the first time, order as the popularity of rugby has grown worldwide over the last few years.

NBC will broadcast the final of both tournaments, pills while Universal Sports will show all 48 matches from the events.

Universal Sports Chief Executive David Sternberg said: “This is a very significant rights acquisition for Universal Sports, especially given the growing popularity of rugby around the World and in America.

“We are delighted to be partnering with the IRB for the Rugby World Cup and other top events, and we look forward to showcasing global rugby, at its highest level, for our audiences across all of our platforms – television, online and mobile.”

Nike Inks Kit Deal with Norwegian FA Until 2021

Nike have today agreed a partnership with the Norwegian Football Association that will see the sports apparel brand become federation’s official apparel sponsor.

The multi-year agreement will commence in January 2015 and run until at least 2021.

Nike will produce all on-pitch and training product, as well as off-pitch product for players and fans.

Bert Hoyt, VP/GM of Nike Western Europe, commented: “We’re very pleased to be partnering with the Norwegian Football Association. This is a further statement of our commitment to innovation and reaffirms our position as the world’s leading football brand. Norway is in the process of building a brand new team with many young and exciting players, and this is something that Nike wants to be a part of and help develop further.”

“Nike’s expertise provides a perfect fit with our ambitions for Norwegian football and will support the National Federation at every level of the game. We are very excited about our future together. This is the most extensive commercial partnership we have ever had with a kit supplier,” said Kjetil Siem, Chief Executive of the Football Association of Norway.

PGA’s Jon Curran Partners with Rocketmiles

PGA player Jon Curran has agreed a partnership with hotel booking site Rocketmiles.

A new partnership with Rocketmiles allows Jon to make the most of his work-related travel, turning each hotel night into thousands airline rewards he can redeem for a dream vacation at the end of his Tour season.

Launched in April 2013, Rocketmiles is a rapidly growing hotel booking site that helps customers get on vacation faster by giving out thousands of airline loyalty miles per booking, about 10-20x the typical incentive. Rates on Rocketmiles are on par with other competitive hotel booking sites, yet offer customers the option to choose from one of 15+ airline partners and earn between 1000-5000 miles or points per hotel night.

“For 25 million people worldwide, loyalty programs enable vacation travel — this could mean scoring in St. Andrews, playing in Pebble Beach, or simply relaxing in the Riviera after a hard year’s work. Our goal is to make that vacation happen faster,” said Jay Hoffmann, CEO of Rocketmiles.

“Based on our proprietary data, average travelers stand to earn about 80,000 extra rewards per year if they use Rocketmiles for their hotel bookings. Jon’s schedule of 200 nights a year in hotels could allow him to earn well over 500,000 miles this season by booking his hotel stays with Rocketmiles. We are excited about working with Jon to help him stay rested while on the Tour and reach his dream vacation in Santorini, Greece.”

Pirelli Retains FIM Contract as Official Tyre Supplier

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) have announced today that Pirelli has been confirmed as the Official Tyre Supplier of the series, having won the tender scheduled from Monday 28 July to Monday 25 August 2014.

The agreement confirms Pirelli in its current role of sole tyre supplier for all the classes of the FIM Superbike World Championship until the end of the 2018 season. 

Pirelli has been a partner of FIM since 2004 and is the longest running control tyre supplier in the history of motorsports at international level.  

Javier Alonso, WSBK Executive Director said: “We are glad to continue with Pirelli for a further three seasons. This renewal testifies our excellent relationship with the Italian company, a partnership for more than a decade that has always been strong with both the International Motorcycling Federation and the promoter and organiser of the series, and is clear evidence of Pirelli’s ongoing and constant ability to innovate and to offer products at the forefront of technology.” 

“Pirelli is proud of this confirmation as Official Tyre Supplier for the top Championship for production derived motorcycles. It is a partnership that has lasted successfully until today thanks to the constant commitment and well-finished service of our racing team that goes to the track every weekend to support the teams and the riders”, added Uberto Thun-Hohenstein, Senior Vice President of Pirelli’s Business Unit Moto.

London Irish Partner with Leisure Lines and Star Trac

Gym equipment suppliers Leisure Lines and Star Trac have agreed a partnership with Aviva Premiership team London Irish for the 2014/15 season.

Leisure Lines and Star Trac are part of the same organisation and are the new exclusive suppliers of strength and cardio equipment for the Exiles.

The brand is committed to being the best and providing commercial gyms with long-lasting equipment they can rely on.

London Irish Commercial Director Jim O’Toole has welcomed both businesses into the London Irish family. He said: “The Star Trac and Leisure Lines equipment is already an integral and significant element of the new state of the art gym at our new Hazelwood home.

“We are proud to be working with two innovative brands and the fact that they have aligned themselves with London Irish is further indication of the club’s progression since the new owners took over.”

Motul Named Title Sponsor of MotoGP’s Grand Prix of Japan

Oil and lubricant specialist Motul has become title sponsor for the Grand Prix of Japan, MotoGP’s commercial rights holder Dorna Sports announced today.

This year’s Motul Grand Prix of Japan will be the 15th round of the MotoGP World Championship, at a critical moment of the season at legendary Twin Ring Motegi. The venue has been part of the championship calendar since 2000.

The agreement also confirms that Motul advertising will be displayed on signs and banners around the circuit for the entirety of the Grand Prix weekend.

Pau Serracanta, Managing Director, Commercial Area at Dorna Sports declared: “We are thrilled to confirm Motul as title sponsor to the Japanese round of the MotoGP World Championship, with Twin Ring Motegi continuing to play a crucial role in the schedule as the home event for major manufacturers. As Motul is a company which prides itself on top service for its partners, particularly when it comes to listening assiduously in order to produce the best possible products and loyalty, the brands fits perfectly into the MotoGP arena.”

“Motul is very honored and happy to be named as title partner for this prestigious event in the temple of motorcycling, and we are certain that the Motul Grand Prix of Japan will be a great success for all concerned,” said Motul’s President of Management Board, Monsieur Hervé Amelot. “Our company has enjoyed an historic relationship with many of Japan’s most successful factory teams which has been both long-standing and very fruitful for all parties, and this new partnership is further proof of the value we place on our involvement with motorcycling in general and the MotoGP™ championship in particular”, added following this agreement.

The 2014 Motul Grand Prix of Japan will take place from 10-12 October.

ISAF Sign Marine Resources as Performance Partner

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has announced today that Marine Resources has joined the Connect to Sailing initiative as a Performance Partner for ‘marine recruitment services’.

James Ward, Managing Director and Owner of Marine Resources commented on the news, “I am very excited about this partnership. Marine Resources have a long standing track record in providing recruitment solutions for many marine industry companies and organisations and I very much look forward to us now providing these services to all ISAF Members, in order for them to help develop their national marine industry infrastructure.

“All of the team at Marine Resources is looking forward to working with the International Sailing Federation to make this partnership a huge success for all involved.”

The Connect to Sailing initiative of the International Sailing Federation is enabling all nations, be they emerging, developing or developed to grow awareness of, and increase accessibility to sailing in all of its many forms. Since the official launch of the Connect to Sailing initiative in 2009, alongside the creation of a dedicated Training and Development department within the International Sailing Federation, over 55 Nations across all continents have benefitted from the support of Connect to Sailing.

Dan Jaspers, ISAF Training and Development Manager, commented on this partnership: “We welcome the expertise that Marine Resources bring to the Connect to Sailing initiative in the area of recruitment services.

We are always being asked to help find people to fill certain roles within the National marine industry related projects of our members. Marine Resources have a proven track record in working with clients of all sizes to help fill their requirements.

“I believe that the services that Marine Resources bring to the Connect to Sailing initiative are a perfect match for what our task is.”

PSG Renews Panasonic Partnership

Electronics manufacturer Panasonic has extended their partnership with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The new deal will include activation based on the men’s and women’s beauty care brand.

“Associating our large range of beauty products for men and women, with Paris Saint-Germain is obvious, given how a healthy lifestyle is linked to regularly doing sport! This is a formidable opportunity for us to associate our latest technology beauty and care products, with the image of the club, four times French champions and filled with world renown footballers,” said Eric Novel, general director of Panasonic France.

“Given the reach in Europe and around the world, this partnership with Paris Saint-Germain sits perfectly with Panasonic strategy, who have been associated with the biggest international sporting events for decades.”

“The development of our partnership with Panasonic is a strong sign of the confidence this innovative and prestigious brand has in the potential pull of Paris Saint-Germain and its capacity to bring added value to their range of beauty care products for both men and women,” declared Jean-Claude Blanc, Paris Saint-Germain general manager.