Edinburgh Rugby, who compete in the RaboDirect PRO12 and Heineken Cup, have announced a new on-year sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi Motors. 

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, based in the Cotswolds will sponsor Edinburgh Rugby, for this season, with logo placement – the manufacturer’s iconic, red three diamonds – which will appear above the number on the back of the shirt.

Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director, David Davies, said: “We’re delighted to announce that Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has joined the club’s family of jersey sponsors.”

“The support of such a major brand is testimony to the work being done to develop a bright future for this club and we look forward to working together in the year ahead to maximise their support.”

Lance Bradley, Managing Director of Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, added: “We are excited about the new partnership with Edinburgh Rugby.

“Edinburgh Rugby has continued to go from strength to strength and we, along with local dealership Belmont Mitsubishi, are here to support them every step of the way.”

The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team has revealed Italian-based bike manufacturer Wilier Triestina will come on board as a bicycle sponsor for the upcoming 2014 season.

The US Pro Continental squad will race on Wilier’s Cento1SR (road) and TwinBlade (TT) models as it heads into next year’s campaign.

“Wilier is a perfect fit for this team as we continue to grow,” said Mike Tamayo, UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team’s general manager and team director. “When we met with Wilier at their headquarters in Italy, we expected to discuss specifics on the bike frame. Not only did we discuss specifics, Wilier showed us a beautifully crafted model that was even in the correct team paint scheme that they had already produced for us. That spoke volumes. We are excited and looking forward to a great partnership with Wilier.”

“The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team has been one of the most well run teams in the sport for more than a decade now and we are pleased to partner with the team as it enters its 12th season,” said Angelo Cilli, president of Wilier Triestina USA. “Over the past few years, we have watched UnitedHealthcare build an incredibly strong name for itself and provide significant value for its sponsors. The results it has produced on the bike are impressive. But equally important is the manner in which the team presents itself on and off the bike, and being associated with a growing team and brand like this is important to us.”

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva has announced a sponsorship deal with watch manufacturer Hublot.

The Brazilian native will endorse Hublot’s new limited edition timepiece Hublot Spider which he began on Friday on his Twitter page. The watch is estimated to be worth $30,000.

Silva said on Twitter: “Started from the bottom now I’m here ..represent by Hublot Spider limited edition .. Thanks GOD I’m so happy.”

Hublot has stepped into sports sponsorships before, most notably being the featured sponsor for Formula 1 team Scuderia Ferrari. The watchmaker has also dealt with other high-end celebrities and athletes such as Kobe Bryant, Usain Bolt and hip-hop artist Jay-Z.

Silva is also sponsored by Nike and Burger King.

Financial services firm Foresters Friendly Society has extended its partnership of Archery GB, capsule the sport’s national governing body in Great Britain, for another three years.

“We are proud to renew our association with Archery GB. We enjoyed a fantastic three years and look forward to another three year partnership,” said Neil Armitage, the marketing director at Foresters Friendly Society. “We will continue to add value to the sport and look forward to bringing the sponsorship to life for our members.”

The Southampton-based brand had been an official performance partner of the British governing body for London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The extension will cover the 2016 Games in Rio.

David Sherratt, the chief executive of Archery GB, said: “We are very pleased that Foresters Friendly Society has signed for another three years. The sport continues to evolve at a pace and we are very pleased that Foresters is continuing on the journey with us. This year alone, we have launched our three regional performance academies, delivered a successful National Series Finals, and The Big Weekend mass participation archery event that has grown year on year.”    

Annual American college football bowl game, pills Orange Bowl has named TouchSuite as their official payment processor.

Fresh off its inclusion on Inc. Magazine’s “Inc. 500” list of the fastest growing private companies in America and its “#1 Fastest Growing Technology Company in South Florida” award by South Florida Business Journal, denture TouchSuite confirmed its sponsorship of the Orange Bowl to further solidify its position as a national leader in the merchant processing and financial technology sector.

“This new relationship with the Orange Bowl promotes the TouchSuite brand on a broad scale and allows us to support an organization with deep roots in the local community and economy, prostate ” said Farshad Tafazzoli, Chief Products and Marketing Officer of TouchSuite.

In the last decade alone, the Orange Bowl Committee has invested nearly $10 million in youth sports programs, scholarships, grants and facilities throughout South Florida. TouchSuite supports youth activism in its community as well, sponsoring a number of sporting events and serving as a title sponsor of the Boca Raton Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a groundbreaking year-long program that transforms middle and high school students into real entrepreneurs.

“The Orange Bowl is an iconic national brand, not only in representing the absolute best in college sports, but as a frontrunner in its efforts to support the community. TouchSuite, too, exemplifies the best in the merchant processing and financial technology sector and we have a deep interest in serving our local youth. We are grateful for our exponential growth and excited to support the Orange Bowl in its commitment to give back,” said TouchSuite CEO Sam Zietz.

TouchSuite provides in-house software and stylistic hardware with easy-to-use payment processing systems to various service industries, including restaurants, bars and nightclubs, salons, spas, retail establishments and pet service businesses. 

“Our new role as an Orange Bowl Sponsor will help create a far-reaching awareness of TouchSuite’s technology and highlight our commitment to the small business community we are confident that this relationship will have a positive economic impact in local communities ,” added Tafazzoli.

Hunting, fishing and camping retailer Bass Pro Shops has announced it will continue its partnership with Richard Childress Racing in 2014.

As part of the deal, they will serve as a primary sponsor on Ty Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats will be a primary sponsor for 11 races on the No. 3 Camaro during Dillon’s first full season in the series, beginning with the DRIVE4COPD 300 season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The No. 1 outdoor retailer leader will join Yuengling Light Lager for the 2014 season

“All of us here at Bass Pro Shops couldn’t be more pleased to continue our friendship and business relationship with our long-time friend Richard Childress and his family,” said Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops.. “We’re happy to continue our sponsorship with Ty Dillon as he advances to the Nationwide Series next year.”

The RCR/Bass Pro Shops partnership began in 1998 as an associate sponsor of RCR’s No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo with NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Dale Earnhardt. The relationship continued with Kevin Harvick in the No 29 Chevrolet and in 2004 Kerry Earnhardt, Dale’s eldest son, drove RCR’s No. 33 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Monte Carlo in six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races. Austin Dillon carried on the tradition in 2010 earning two victories and the Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors, before capturing the championship in just his second season in the series. Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats was also a sponsor for Ty Dillon’s ARCA Series presented by Menards Championship season in 2011.

“I’m a hunter and a fisherman and share Johnny Morris’ passion for the outdoors, so it’s special to have the support of Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats,” Ty Dillon said. “It means a lot to me that Johnny and everyone at Bass Pro Shops are going to follow me to the NASCAR Nationwide Series. We’ve accomplished a lot together in the past couple of years. We won some races for them, a championship in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“I hope we can continue that success in the Nationwide Series next year. I love being able to spend time in the outdoors with my family and the Bass Pro relationship allows me to share those stories with their customers and fans.”

The Dillon/Bass Pro Shops duo has earned three victories, four pole awards, 16 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes in two seasons in the Camping World Truck Series in RCR equipment.

“Johnny Morris is a great friend and we’re all very proud to be associated with him and Bass Pro Shops,” said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “He’s done so much for both Ty and Austin (Dillon) early on in their careers, and we hope he’ll be with us for years to come now. To have Bass Pro Shops with Ty next year in the Nationwide Series is an honor for all of us. Ty and his brother (Austin) are both talented drivers with bright futures ahead. They are also tremendous ambassadors for the outdoors, hunting and fishing, conservation and the Bass Pro Shops brand — so it’s a perfect fit.”

Bass Pro Shops was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Springfield, Mo. The outdoor retail leader has 63 stores throughout the United States and Canada, serving over 116 million sportsmen a year. Bass Pro Shops is slated to open 19 new locations with grand opening dates to be announced at a later date.

UK Sport have revealed a new four-year partnership with sport and leisure insurers Sportscover.

As part of the deal, pharm Sportscover will be the presenting partner of the World Class Performance Conference, which gets underway in Manchester today. Sportscover will also become the presenting partner of UK Sport’s Gold Event Series Workshops and Governance events through to 2017.

Paul Thomas, Business Development Director at Sportscover, said: “Sportscover are delighted to be working with such a prestigious partner as UK Sport. This represents a further step forward in our development and one towards our ultimate goal of becoming synonymous with sport in this country.  We look forward to assisting UK Sport and its beneficiaries with the continued delivery of excellence across the sporting landscape.”

Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: “It’s fantastic for us to be able to announce that Sportscover will act as a key partner to UK Sport on the road to Rio.

“Their investment will allow us to continue to provide key learning and development opportunities to coaches, event managers and governance specialists as we look to build a stronger more sustainable high performance sports system in the UK.

“Sportscover will be sharing their time, experience, and leading industry knowledge at many conferences and events to come, and we look forward to working with them on a number of exciting projects.”

Sportscover are the third organisation to become an Official Partner to UK Sport since London 2012, alongside BAE Systems, Official Research & Innovation Partner, and Bupa, Official Health Insurance Partner.

India’s fourth largest private sector bank YES BANK has signed a sponsorship deal with the Hockey India League (HIL) starting from next season.

Announcing the deal, HIL chairman Narinder Batra said, ” This is a fantastic, long-term partnership for the League. We look forward to our association with YES BANK to mobilise sports innovation and infuse positive energy into hockey.”

Rana Kapoor, Managing Director & CEO, YES BANK, said, “We are extremely pleased to associate with HIL. Through our dedicated Sports Banking proposition, we are also committed to providing a robust financial infrastructure to support sports through customised banking solutions for various hockey associations, teams as well as players.”

For the inaugural season, 70 top domestic players including the Indian national side as well as 50 international players, are set to compete for the five franchises.

Six franchise teams will feature in the second season of the HIL to be held from January 25 to February 23. The League will be an opportunity for 144 leading players to showcase their skills in 34 matches at six different venues.

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) has announced Under Armour as the league’s new exclusive supplier of performance apparel, treatment footwear & equipment through the 2016 season.

NLL players will compete in the new Under Armour apparel and equipment when the 2014 season begins on December 28. The Baltimore-based brand will provide NLL athletes with state-of-the-art performance training apparel, drug baselayer and footwear including the UA Micro G Gridiron training shoes. Additionally, players will be some of the first to compete with custom Under Armour Charge Gloves and new Under Armour Charge 2 lacrosse heads.

“We are proud to be in partnership with Under Armour, a leader in innovation and performance,” said George Daniel, Commissioner of the National Lacrosse League. “NLL players will now be empowered with the finest lacrosse equipment and apparel in the industry.”

“This new partnership with the NLL provides Under Armour with the unique opportunity to feature the most technically advanced products at the pinnacle of the sport,” said Jim Bel Bruno, Senior Category Director, Lacrosse, Under Armour. “Our brand is dedicated to making all athletes better and we are excited to demonstrate our continued commitment to the lacrosse category and its athletes through this platform.”

Michelob ULTRA and US Road Sports & Entertainment Group today announced a new partnership that will see Michelob ULTRA become the title sponsor of the Michelob ULTRA 13.1 Marathon Series, cough America’s fastest-growing half marathon series.

As part of the multi-year partnership, pharm Michelob ULTRA will receive all naming rights for each of the seven races, see logo placement on all marketing materials – including finishers’ medals – and on-site activation opportunities at each race to provide entertainment and engage with runners and spectators.

Michelob ULTRA will activate its sponsorship in a variety of ways to elevate the race experience for runners, their families and spectators, including introducing new technology to enhance how runners are tracked during all 13.1 events and awarding each runner, 21 and older, one complementary Michelob ULTRA sample at the finish line (where legal). Michelob ULTRA will also have a presence at select training runs.

“Joining forces with the 13.1 Marathon Series is a great opportunity for us to continue supporting the running industry and the athletes that dedicate themselves to the challenge of competing in a half marathon,” said Lori Shambro, vice president, Michelob ULTRA. “We are excited to activate at each Marathon Series event next year and toasting each adult competitor with a cold Michelob ULTRA sample* at the finish line.”

“We are very pleased to align the 13.1 Marathon Series with a brand like Michelob ULTRA,” says Steve Obert, vice president of sales and marketing at US Road Sports & Entertainment Group. “This partnership showcases the fun and excitement that is prevalent at all 13.1 Marathon events.”

Fully launched in 2010, the 13.1 Marathon Series is a group of races that gives runners and walkers a chance to participate in a stand-alone 13.1 mile race in some of the most popular and scenic running communities nationwide. In 2011 alone, the Series had more than 35,000 participants. In 2014 race markets include Miami Beach, New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas and Fort Lauderdale with events spanning from January to November.