Australian airline Qantas has announced it has renewed its sponsorship deal with the Super Rugby Crusaders as Official Airline partner for a further two years.

Regional General Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, treatment Igor Kwiatkowski said Qantas has sponsored the high performance team since March this year.

“Qantas is a proud sponsor of the Crusaders, canada pills they are a dynamic team and we’re pleased to extend our support through to 2015,” said Mr Kwiatkowski.

“And with the commencement of the Qantas and Emirates partnership in New Zealand, we’re now able to support the team with more destinations and a greater network than ever before.”

Crusaders CEO Hamish Riach added: “Partnering with an established and successful company like Qantas was really significant for us, and this two year extension provides us with even more security and certainty going forward, said Mr Riach

“It is clear that this partnership has been mutually beneficial for both Qantas and the Crusaders over the last seven months so we are extremely pleased to be committing to a further two years.”

The Crusaders are the only Super Rugby team to complete a whole season undefeated and in their 17 years of Super Rugby, they have won seven titles, been finalists 11 times and semi-finalists for 14 of the last 15 years.

Qantas currently operates more than 100 return trans-Tasman services per week, including 70 return flights per week between Australia and Auckland, 21 return flights per week between Australia and Wellington and daily flights between Sydney and Christchurch.

The Jordan Brand have announced that NBA rookie’s Victor Oladipo, Otto Porter Jr. and Cody Zeller have all joined the Jordan family of ambassadors. 

As part of the deal all three will be supplied with footwear.

“We are excited to add Victor, Otto and Cody to the Jordan family,” said Michael Jordan. “As we continue to expand and improve our performance product, these young players will be a big part of our efforts around the game of basketball.”

Oladipo, drafted second overall by the Orlando Magic in June’s draft, is an explosive 6’4″ shooting guard who was named The Sporting News National Player of the Year in 2013. Oladipo capped off a stellar three-year collegiate career by averaging 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.55 steals per game as a junior. The Maryland native wasn’t highly ranked coming out of high school, but displayed exceptional work ethic and determination in becoming one of the best basketball players in the nation.

Porter, a silky smooth 6’7″ small forward from Maryland, was selected third overall in the 2013 draft by Washington Wizards. Cody Zeller, the youngest in the family, became the third member of his household to be named Mr. Basketball in the state of Indiana before being drafted fourth overall in June’s Draft. The 7’0″ center averaged 16.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in his second collegiate season. His performance earned him Conference Player of the Year honors as well as numerous All-America honors.

All three athletes will start the season in JORDAN PRIME.FLY footwear.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with Tony Revans Financial Planning who will feature on the Wildcats playing and replica shirts for the first time in 2014.

A lifelong supporter of the club, denture Tony Revans has been a player sponsor for three years, herbal will sponsor Captain Danny Kirmond for 2014, medic and has provided financial advice and support to a number of the Trinity squad in 2013.

Tony Revans Financial Planning was formed in Wakefield in 2000 and offers a bespoke proposition over a wide range of needs.  The firm has established itself as a leading source of expert retirement planning advice and corporate financial planning.

Clients range from large companies to individuals needing investment guidance and to first time home buyers requiring financial advice.

“We’re delighted that Tony Revans Financial Planning will feature on the shirt next season and I’m sure it’ll be a proud moment for Tony to see his firms name on the jersey of the club he has supported all his life,” said Wildcats Commercial Manager, Martin Hopkins.

“Whilst the primary reason for becoming a shirt sponsor isn’t for the exposure it brings, we’re sure that Tony will benefit from the added awareness that comes with shirt sponsorship.”

Tony commented: “I am delighted to be able to back the Club in this way, especially during this particularly difficult period. Hopefully others in the Wakefield Business Community will continue, and indeed strengthen, their support of ‘The Trin’.”

“Wakefield Trinity Wildcats plays an important part in mine and my family’s life, and that of many loyal supporters, but equally it is a massive part of what makes Wakefield the city it is. I’m looking forward to 2014 and pleased to be in a fortunate position of being able to offer some tangible support.”

Consumer electronics company Dick Smith has agreed to sponsor the National Rugby League’s (NRL) Auckland Nines for the next five years.

The deal was announced today during the draw for the February tournament at Dick Smith’s flagship Sylvia Park store, led by Auckland Mayor Len Brown, NRL commercial director Paul Kind and Dick Smith Director of Operations Armando Pedruco.

Ticket revenue for the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines has already edged over $NZ2 million – a sure sign that the event at Eden Park has already caught the public’s imagination.

“The Nines is an innovative start to the season that is not only creating great excitement in New Zealand but which has generated real interest among Australian fans and teams,” NRL CEO David Smith said.

“To see a major company like Dick Smith sign up as naming rights partner is a real vote of support for the tournament.

“The Nines format will give players a chance to showcase their attacking skills while keeping touch with the fabric of the game.

“There are some big things ahead for Rugby League next year and the Nine’s will provide a real springboard for the season.”

Duco Events managing director Mr David Higgins said, “We share a vision with the NRL, ATEED and Dick Smith to establish the NRL Auckland Nines as one of the premier annual events in Australia and New Zealand.

“Dick Smith is a strategic partner who shares our vision for this exciting new venture for rugby league and the New Zealand community.

“Dick Smith has a strong focus on engaging its community and customers through unique marketing opportunities, which is why we believe they’re the perfect fit for this partnership.

“Dick Smith is committed to selling premium products at competitive prices and that’s a nice alignment with us because that’s exactly what we are offering sports fans at the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines.”

CEO of Dick Smith, Australia and New Zealand, Mr Nick Abboud said, “Dick Smith is proud to be the inaugural naming rights sponsor for the NRL Auckland Nines competition. As one of New Zealand’s longest serving consumer electronics retailers we’re passionate about investing in the New Zealand community. We see this as a perfect opportunity to re-energise our relationship with the community, especially here in Auckland where the support of our business is so strong.

“We believe this exciting new tournament will be New Zealand’s biggest summer event attracting many of the star players from the NRL, who will not only play at Eden Park, but also meet our customers through events at Dick Smith stores throughout Auckland.

“Many of us at Dick Smith are huge rugby league fans and are confident our customers and the community will get behind the NRL Auckland Nines and support it,” said Mr Abboud.

Dick Smith is the second major sponsor to sign on to the Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines alongside Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) which will invest NZ$ 9 million over five years.

NASCAR starlet Erik Jones, who drives for Kyle Busch Motorsports #51 Toyota, will have Wake Up Narcolepsy (WUN) as his newest partner for the next couple of weekends.

WUN is a leading international nonprofit dedicated to speeding narcolepsy diagnosis through greater awareness and funding research for a cure to this devastating sleep disorder, which affects millions worldwide.

The 17-year-old’s #51 Toyota will prominently display the WUN logo at both the sold-out Nashville Fairgrounds All-American 400 Super Late Model event on November 2, and again in the Lucas 150, the November 8 stop of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Phoenix International Speedway.

“Riding alongside Erik is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about narcolepsy, a devastating sleep disorder affecting 200,000 Americans, including many children and young adults,” said Monica Gow, WUN Executive Director and Co-founder.

“Like our new awareness campaign, and like drivers everywhere, Erik needs to be fully ‘Awake at the Wheel’ as he pilots the #51. We couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with this up-and-coming star and the KBM garage,” she added. “Erik is at the age at which narcolepsy often first strikes, making our partnership especially apropos.”

Jones said, “I’m proud to be associated with Wake Up Narcolepsy and its mission to help the millions of people living with narcolepsy. When the green flag drops in Nashville and Phoenix, I’ll be pulling out all the stops to get the #51 Toyota into the lead and be right there for the checkered flag. This is a huge opportunity for KBM and WUN!”

Jones joined KBM in March 2013. He had made a name for himself a few months earlier when he raced side-by-side for several laps and eventually worked his way past KBM owner Kyle Busch in the closing laps to win the 45th Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, FL. 

The Michigan native has finished inside the top 10 in all four of his Truck Series starts this season, including a runner-up finish in the July event at Iowa Speedway. In his lone Super Late Model start for KBM, he led a race-high 131 laps en route to victory in the prestigious Winchester 400 at Winchester (IN) Speedway.

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has announced Coral as the title sponsor of a new event on the series.

The Coral Masters will see the world’s top 16 players facing off, live on ITV4, for a £60,000 first prize, with play taking place at the Royal Highland Centre from November 1-3.

The three-day tournament will be sponsored by leading bookmaker Coral, who have previously supported PDC events through title sponsorship of the Players Championship Finals and a partnership with the 2013 Premier League Darts.

“We’re delighted that Coral have further extended their involvement with the PDC with their sponsorship of this exciting new tournament,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

“The Coral Masters sees the best of the best in the world of darts coming together to play in what promises to be a memorable event, as our top 16 do battle to see who really is The Master!”

Coral spokesman Tim Reynolds said: “Darts is a true success story, and with it being a significant part of our business strategy going forward we are delighted to once again to be working alongside the PDC.”

The Holden Racing Team has announced SP Tools as a major partner for the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship.

The global company, through Australian distributor Austech Industries, has been involved in V8 Supercars sponsorship since the early 1990s, a naming-rights sponsor since 2008 and associated with HRT parent company, Walkinshaw Racing since 2007.

Holden Racing Team Chairman Ryan Walkinshaw welcomed SP Tools’ increased involvement with the team and said its industry-leading technology and proactive approach to motorsport sponsorship makes it a valuable partner.

“The Holden Racing Team’s association with SP began in 2008 with the supply of air tools – most notably the team’s pit-lane race guns which enable our team to be a category leader,” Walkinshaw said.

“Our connection with SP’s Kevin Davis and Tom Tucker has evolved over time and we are proud that HRT uses their high quality SP Air and Hand Tools exclusively.

“2014 sees our relationship take yet another very important step forward and we are delighted to fully welcome SP Tools into our family.

“The company is innovative and proactive in the use of its sponsorship properties, and HRT and our partners will benefit from its sales and marketing activities.

“We look forward to sharing many more victories with SP Tools as the Holden Racing Team enters yet another exciting period in its rich history.”

Austech Industries CEO Kevin Davis said the opportunity to increase its the successful team was important for the company.

“SP Tools is been a proud supporter of Australian motorsport and over time we have come to appreciate HRT’s professionalism and popularity,” Davis said.

“As a long-time supporter of the Walkinshaw organisation, we have enjoyed a lot of success including many race wins and two victories in the iconic Bathurst 1000; we look forward to more successes as a major partner of the team.”

SP Tools will carry an increased presence on HRT’s VF Commodores of former V8 Supercars Champions Garth Tander and James Courtney, beginning at Adelaide’s season-opening Clipsal 500 next March.