Underwear manufacturer Jockey have announced a new partnership with New Zealand Rugby Union to sponsor the All Blacks and All Blacks Sevens.

Under a three year sponsorship deal announced today Jockey will be the Official Off-field Underwear sponsor of both teams. A new marketing campaign also launched today features All Blacks and All Blacks Sevens sporting their jockeys.

Dan Carter, who has featured in Jockey’s campaigns for the last 10 years, is stepping away from the camera and will now take on a Global Ambassador role for the Jockey International brand. 

“It’s great to see a partnership between a brand Kiwis love and their favourite rugby teams,” said New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew. “We welcome Jockey to our group of sponsors and we’re sure they, like all our sponsors, will be great supporters of our game.”

“We are excited to embark on the next chapter with the All Blacks and All Blacks Sevens sponsorship,” said Jane Lawry, Jockey Marketing Manager. “The players are leaders in their field, so it’s only right that New Zealand’s favourite underwear brand is building on a partnership with the world’s greatest rugby teams.”

The latest sponsorship agreement follows another successful year for New Zealand Rugby’s commercial programme in 2013.

Two long standing partners renewed their commitment to New Zealand Rugby. Lion has been a proud supporter of rugby for 27 years while Ford has partnered with the game for 17 years.

Unilever has also continued its association with personal care brands Rexona and Clear, while Proctor & Gamble joined the sponsor group through Duracell batteries.

Barkers and Novartis (Voltaren) renewed their associations early in 2013.

“New Zealand Rugby is in the very fortunate position of having the support of a diverse group of national and global sponsors including Principal Partner adidas, Sky Television and Major Global Sponsor AIG,” said Tew. “These partnerships mean our income is secured for the medium term which is great news for all of New Zealand rugby. 

“Our sponsors play an important role in ensuring our game remains strong. Their investment helps us to keep the game flourishing from the community level upwards, retain and nuture our players and coaches and keep producing world champion teams.”

{jcomments on}

Stella Artois have been announced as the Official Beer of The Open Championship to be held at Royal Liverpool in 2014. 

As part of the deal, Stella Artois will be available at Royal Liverpool from 13th – 20th July 2014, with customised space for discerning golf fans to enjoy a superior beer experience throughout the prestigious Championship. 

Away from Royal Liverpool, Stella Artois’ sponsorship of The Open Championship will be supported with a fully integrated campaign including above the line, on-pack promotions and digital marketing. 

Stella Artois supports some of the world’s greatest events and with The Open Championship the premium Belgian beer is adding to its impressive list of partnerships, which includes the Cannes Film Festival and the Kentucky Derby. 

Phil Pick, Marketing Manager for Stella Artois UK, said: “At Stella Artois we have a huge appreciation for events that celebrate a real sense of occasion and excellence. We are delighted to be a part of one of the biggest sporting events in the UK and look forward to showcasing our pouring ritual to the thousands of fans who will attend Royal Liverpool this July. At The Open Championship we won’t just be serving good beer and cider, we will only be serving the best.” 

Michael Tate, Executive Director – Business Affairs at The R&A added: “The Open Championship is delighted to welcome Stella Artois as the Official Beer for the 143rd Championship at Royal Liverpool. We are proud to partner with Stella Artois who share our values of promoting the best in delivery and craftsmanship.”

{jcomments on}

French car brand Peugeot have announced Hansen Motorsport from the FIA World Rallycross Championship from 2014.

Peugeot’s involvement in motorsport has one of the broadest ever seen over the decades. The make has claimed titles in the World Rally Championship and Sportscar World Championship, viagra while its ventures into such celebrated competitions as the Dakar, drugs Pikes Peak, prescription Le Mans and Indianapolis have all been crowned with success.

The official name of the resulting team is Team Peugeot-Hansen and, in association with Peugeot’s longstanding partner Total, it will compete with a 208 T16 silhouette version of the 208. The programme will cover all 12 rounds of the championship which is due to kick off in May.

Driver Kenneth HANSEN, said: “We are very proud and honoured to be working with Peugeot Sport in this year’s FIA World Rallycross Championship. We couldn’t be more motivated, but we are also acutely aware that the programme comes with a huge responsibility. Be sure, though, that we will do everything in our power to make sure Peugeot has no regrets about placing its faith in Hansen Motorsport.

“My entire focus is now on getting on with the work that awaits us, from the team’s branding to the tiniest of screws which will go into the car. Hansen Motorsport can look back at a successful record and our big dream right now is to fight at the very front with Peugeot. This is a completely new project which starts here and now, so we will need to work harder than ever in our bid to secure more success in 2014.”

Bruno FAMIN, Director, Peugeot Sport, added: “At Peugeot Sport, we are constantly looking to explore different forms of motorsport. Rallycross is a discipline that is expanding quickly, and that includes the introduction of an FIA-sanctioned world championship from this year. We were attracted to the sport by a long list of factors, including its spectacular side, the big crowds it draws and the cars that are involved. They are very close to our target. We naturally sought to strike up a relationship with one of the best teams in the business, namely Hansen Motorsport. Team Peugeot-Hansen is starting from scratch for this new championship and we face a fascinating challenge with a calendar of 12 rounds across the world in some of the most strategically important markets for the brand.”

Martin ANAYI, Managing Director of World Championship Promoter, IMG Motorsport: “We are delighted that Peugeot Sport has pledged its commitment to officially supporting a professional race team entering the FIA World Rallycross Championship in its inaugural year. To have a second major manufacturer involved in this way is another significant coup for our fast-growing series”.

Rallycross is another competition in which Peugeot has been active over the years, and the introduction of a new World Rallycross Championship in 2014 will provide the discipline with a tremendous springboard to expand beyond its traditional European boundaries.

The Cleveland Browns have announced the University Hospitals (UH) in Cleveland as the official health care partner of the NFL franchise for the next 10 years.

As the Official Health Care Partner of the Browns, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, the health system’s nationally recognized academic medical center, will provide a complete team of physician specialists covering every aspect of the team’s health care needs.

Both organizations’ leaders described a commitment to co-create an innovative sports medicine program based on medical and scientific evidence-based research to advance the athletic performance and the overall health and fitness of the Browns players.

“We are extremely pleased to announce this partnership with University Hospitals,” said Cleveland Browns President Alec Scheiner. “Health and safety are very important issues not only for our players but also for our staff. Our goal is to continually and aggressively look at how we can positively affect our organization. Through this medical partnership, we will further develop innovative and comprehensive programs that enhance athletic performance and wellness.”

In collaboration with the Browns, UH has agreed to develop a trans-disciplinary sports medicine team that includes nearly all medical specialties. 

“The entire sports world is indeed on the brink of real change when it comes to caring for its athletes,” said Joe Sheehan, Browns Head Athletic Trainer. “Organizations which develop unique and exceptional comprehensive systems dedicated to the growth and development of their athletes, in the physical, mental and fundamental domains, will redefine the industry standard of care.”

UH will also manage and provide urgent care to Browns fans at FirstEnergy Stadium and health and wellness programs for the Browns franchise and their families. In a separate agreement, UH will become a sponsor of the Cleveland Browns that extends to 2024. As part of that investment, UH will receive extensive signage at the stadium and other advertising opportunities.

“University Hospitals and the Cleveland Browns will redefine sports medicine in ways that will benefit professional and amateur athletes at every level,” said Thomas F. Zenty III, CEO of UH. “We are honored to provide an all-inclusive approach to the Cleveland Browns’ organization. Our goal is to provide the Browns with the most innovative, comprehensive health care program in the NFL and to support them all the way to a championship.”

The organisers of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games have signed a partnership today naming John Lewis the Official Department Store Provider of the prestigious event.

The partnership will see the retailer provide bedding and white goods for the Athletes’ Village.

Glasgow 2014 merchandise is also available to buy on johnlewis.com now, nurse and, medicine later in the year, herbal dedicated Glasgow 2014 shops will open within John Lewis’s Scottish shops, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. 

John Lewis’s sponsorship of the Games builds on the success of the department store’s support of London 2012. Across the country, John Lewis’s sales of London 2012 official merchandise exceeded expectations by 25%, while sales of its own-brand celebratory range, ‘Celebration of Britain’, were 44% higher than expectations.

Chief Executive of Glasgow 2014, David Grevemberg, commented on the deal: “The John Lewis brand is synonymous with strong values and great quality, making it a great fit within the Glasgow 2014 sponsor family. 

“With the support of such an excellent household name in the Official Department Store Provider category, Glasgow 2014 will continue to build towards success in what will be a truly memorable year.” 

John Lewis Retail Director, Andrew Murphy, said: “We’ve been supporting Glasgow 2014 since the bid stage, and are delighted to continue our support by becoming the Official Department Store Provider of the Commonwealth Games.  There was so much excitement around the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, and I think Glasgow 2014 will build on this to create a true legacy for our Partners*, Scotland and wider UK. 

“We want our shops to be a central part of the celebrations: not only with the merchandise we will sell, but through some of the great events we’ve got planned for customers and Partners alike.” 

{jcomments on}