Australian Rugby Union and Lion Co today announced the renewal of their decade long partnership, for a further three years.

eBay Motors has announced today it will continue its title sponsorship of West Surrey Racing (WSR) for the 2013 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

WSR are designing and building new BMW 125i cars to NGTC specification for the 2013 season. The cars will be based on the M Sport version of the road car, see and will be powered by 2-litre turbocharged engines in keeping with the BTCC rules. This new direction for WSR follows the use of a BMW 320si for the past 6 seasons. 

eBay Motors is the UK’s leading online automotive marketplace and 2013 will be its fourth season in the BTCC, and having been a partner of WSR since 2010.

Following a second place finish in the 2012 BTCC Teams’ Championship and 14 podium positions, asthma the eBay Motors team will look to build on that result in 2013 by capitalising on the new model BMW and highly experienced team.

Andrew Hooks, eBay’s Head of Hard Goods (Motoring & Electronics), said: “We are excited by the prospect of a fourth BTCC season supporting the WSR team and the addition of the new BMW 1-Series. Being part of the championship has given us the opportunity to share our passion for the world of motors and highlight our huge selection of parts, accessories and vehicles on our UK site. We look forward to a competitive and successful 2013 season as eBay Motors.”

Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal, said: “We are very pleased to continue our relationship with eBay Motors into the BTCC 2013 season. This is the fourth year we have worked together with eBay Motors and both parties are very focused on continuing the successes of previous seasons. With the introduction of the new model BMW 125i M Sport, we are confident of being very competitive throughout the 2013 season. We chose the new 1- Series as we felt it was more suitable to the current BTCC regulations. The wheelbase is quite a lot shorter than the new 3-Series car, so it should perform well on the tight twisty circuits that we race on in the UK.”

Ducati Australia and New Zealand has announced its sponsorship of the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Surf IronMan Series and IronWoman Series, viagra with winners of both series riding away on an iconic Monster 659 ABS motorcycle.

The IronMan and IronWoman Series will see Australia’s elite athletes compete in what is the most grueling ocean based competition on the planet.

Ducati CEO Warren Lee commented about the partnership: “Ducati has a long tradition of producing motorcycles characterised by their superior performance, asthma innovative design and avant-garde technology,” Mr Lee said.

“We understand the dedication and passion it takes to cross the finish line in first place and we are thrilled to support the upcoming IronMan and IronWoman Series.

“We are sure the series winners will love the exhilarating feeling of freedom riding down a winding coastal road on their new Monster 659 ABS motorcycles,” he said.

According to Ducati, the Monster 659 ABS is a motorcycle unique to the Australian and NZ markets and is approved under the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (LAMS) for learner riders. It features rider friendly smooth power delivery, low seat height and comfortable riding position, class-leading light weight for easy agile handling and the confidence and safety of ABS anti-locking brake system.

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series and IronWoman Series director Guy Leech welcomed the sponsorship.

“When we told the athletes they are going to be racing for a Ducati they were thrilled,” Mr Leech said.

Chinese sports apparel company Peak Sports has announced a partnership with Canadian NBA team the Toronto Raptors.

The four-season deal marks the first time a Chinese company has sponsored a professional Canadian sports team.

Peak Sports is growing rapidly and the partnership with the Toronto Raptors is part of the company’s international marketing strategy, said Peak Sports’ Chairman, Xu Jingnan.

Xu said Peak is hoping to introduce and establish their brand in Canada with the help of the Toronto Raptors.

“Internationalization has always been the main focus in the development of Peak Sports,” he said. “This partnership with the Toronto Raptors will help accelerate Peak’s business here in Canada and bring our product to Canadian consumers.”

Listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2009, Peak Sports produces and manufactures goods in a variety of sports. But basketball is its main focus and the company has established strategic partnerships with a number of high profile NBA teams including the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat

“NBA is definitely number one in the basketball world. They produce many heroes every year,” Xu said. “This partnership with the Toronto Raptors will help Peak show Canadian basketball fans who Peak is, and who its products represent.”

David Hopkinson, Senior Vice President of Business Partnerships at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors, said it’s a mutually beneficial deal that would provide an opportunity for both sides to share information and learn from each other.

“Basketball is the number one sport in China, with well-established roots here in Canada, and this is an opportunity I think for us to really do something that bridges the gap between two cultures around the common love for basketball,” said Hopkinson.

Company’s branding will be displayed all over the Air Canada Centre where Raptors home games are played.

Peak’s merchandise will also be available to Canadian consumers at the Raptors Team shop at the Air Canada Centre.

To mark the announcement of the partnership, Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, one of Peak’s featured endorsees, ran a basketball clinic and that helped nearly 30 Chinese youths.

Peak Sports was established in 1989, and now has more than 6,000 stores in China.{jcomments on}

Singapore based general insurance company, Liberty Insurance has become a sponsor of the Handcycling Association of Singapore.

The deal is worth about US$82,000.

The deal gives the Association’s preparations for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro a major boost.

Association President, Foo Fung-Liang will become a Liberty Insurance brand ambassador.

Martin Bridger, Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Insurance Singapore, said Liberty hopes the sponsorship will help athletes to reach their potential and inspire others.{jcomments on}

The Greater Western Sydney Giants have announced a new three year partnership with Dyldam, discount with the property development company joining the club as their official shorts partner from 2013.

Dyldam initially joined the Giants in 2012, supporting the club through corporate hospitality and match day signage and have now committed long term to the club’s future.

Founded in 1969, Dyldam is a privately owned property development company with an in-house team of experts, ranging from town planners and architects to construction professionals in all capacities.

Over the past four decades Dyldam has developed many residential and commercial properties across Sydney, particularly in the Western Sydney region.

Dyldam Projects Director, Fayad Fayad, said the GIANTS and Dyldam shared similar community based values. 

“Dyldam and the GWS GIANTS are a natural fit. We are both about creating communities and pride in Western Sydney,” Fayad said. 

“The GIANTS are a club with an exciting future and we are proud to be on board to support them.”

GIANTS CEO David Matthews believes this partnership will strengthen the GIANTS’ relationship with the Greater Western Sydney community, and looks forward to working with Dyldam

“We are very excited to have Dyldam on board as our shorts partner for the next three years,” Matthews said.

“Dyldam has worked hard to develop Greater Western Sydney, and we believe that with this partnership we can contribute to the growth and development of the region.
“The GIANTS are incredibly proud of the corporate partners we have been working with and Dyldam is a great addition to this team.”

Rangers FC has today confirmed Bet Butler as its Official Betting Partner for Season 2012/13. 

Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Bet Butler’s unique bet broker service gives punters access to the best sporting odds from the world’s leading bookmakers via a single account.

The Bet Butler service at www.betbutler.co.uk scours the web to source odds from more than 60 international bookmakers, providing real-time comparison of the latest prices and guaranteeing the very best odds – on average 20% better than a typical bookmaker.

Five years of constant development have placed Bet Butler’s proprietary bet management and brokering systems at the forefront in the industry.

Bet Butler is also the Official Betting Partners of English Premier League sides Newcastle, Sunderland and Fulham, as well as the English Football League.

Charles Green, Rangers Chief Executive, said: “This deal with Bet Butler will deliver real value for our fans this season by guaranteeing them the best odds on every bet.

“This season’s partnership can deliver results for both Bet Butler and Rangers Football Club.”

David Evans, spokesperson for Bet Butler, added: “As we continue to build high-profile partnerships in Scottish football, it’s great to be playing a part in the rebirth of Rangers Football Club.

“We will be working closely with the club to offer a betting product that is tailored to the needs of all Rangers fans.”

Bet Butler is also a major partner of iSportconnect.

Monarch Airlines is set to be Leed’s United’s Official North Stand Sponsor in a new partnership.

Monarch, the leading scheduled leisure airline has entered into an exciting sponsorship agreement with the Club to provide substantial marketing support for the launch of its sixth UK airport base, Leeds Bradford, its two new winter routes to Grenoble and Munich, launching this weekend and its twelve new routes for summer 2013.

Under the new agreement Monarch will receive extensive marketing inventory and enjoy significant profile at Elland Road with Monarch branding featuring across both the internal stand fascia and on the highly visible external fascia of the North Stand directly overlooking the M621 motorway.

Leeds United Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said, “We are delighted that Monarch will be working with the Club to support its new routes flying from Leeds Bradford Airport.Their investment into the airport is extremely positive news for both the community and for the local economy with new jobs being created at the airport.

Through our new partnership we aim to make Monarch the first choice carrier for European flights for Leeds United fans all across the UK and will be working closely with Monarch to deliver some exciting promotional fares and competitions to our fan base over the coming months.”

Commenting on the launch of the new partnership with the Club, Managing Director of Monarch Airlines, Kevin George said, “Leeds United enjoy a unique position within Yorkshire and remains one of the biggest football clubs within the UK. We have been impressed with the passion and commitment that the Club demonstrates. The scale and reach of the Clubs fan base speaks for itself and through this exciting new partnership we look forward to welcoming Leeds United fans on board our new routes from Leeds Bradford Airport.”

Argentine international and Newcastle United FC midfielder Jonás Gutiérrez has become the brand ambassador for American sports manufacturer, apoplectic Warrior.

Best known for his superhero-inspired goal celebrations, the 29-year-old enjoyed success at Vélez Sarsfield and Real Mallorca before landing at St James’ Park in 2008. Hailed by former coach Diego Maradona as an integral part of the Argentine national side, Gutiérrez made a number of key appearances at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The Magpies stalwart will wear the Skreamer Pro boots from the brand’s debut football boot line, Skreamer.

“I love the Skreamer Pro; it feels light, fast and gives me added power,” said Gutiérrez.

“I first heard about Warrior when the brand launched into football earlier this year and was always keen to learn more about what it stood for. I respect Warrior’s willingness to change the game’s landscape and the confidence that comes with that. The brand may be new to the sport of football but it’s here for the long haul,” he said.

Gutiérrez’s colourful on-pitch persona was a draw card said Ben Haworth, global sports marketing manager for Warrior Football.

“Not only is Jonás a highly skilled and respected player, he’s equipped with a charisma and exuberance we see as being a great match for Warrior,” he said. “Our players know who they are and aren’t afraid to make themselves known. We’re excited Warrior will now have a presence in the Newcastle United camp with Jonás and we look forward to working with him for seasons to come.”

Optimal Payments, buy cheap a leading global online payment provider, apoplectic has annnounced that it is sponsoring British Olympian Zoë Gillings, ambulance the GB’s Number 1 Snow Sports athlete, for a further 24 months, in the all important run up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

Optimal Payments has been a principal supporter of Zoë’s since mid 2011. Zoë had her most successful season in 2011/12, culminating with a podium finish at the World Cup Finals in March 2012. Zoë finished the 2011/12 season ranked 6th in the World having recorded a top 10 finish in every single World Cup competition marking this as Zoë’s most successful season of her career ever. This season, Zoë has just recorded a fantastic 5th place finish at the Montafon World Cup, Austria – the next round of the World Cup series takes place in Telluride, Colorado this coming weekend.

Isle of Man based Zoë has also been proactive in seeking funding for her Olympic challenge, launching two innovative “daily deal” websites, IsleofDeals.com and ZGCityDeals.co.uk. Optimal Payments is proud to be supporting Zoë in these ventures through its NETBANX solution, which is providing payment processing services to her eCommerce sites in Europe and soon North America. Optimal also provides Zoë with its award-winning Net+ Prepaid MasterCard which can be used wherever she competes around the world.

Zoë Gillings said: “I am delighted that Optimal Payments have renewed their commitment to my Olympic challenge for this all-important forthcoming season and into the 2014 Winter Olympics. Their support, both as sponsor and payments partner, has been great and I am pleased to be working with them. They have proved integral to my success on the Olympic course and in business and I’m proud to be representing them for another year.”

Danny Chazonoff, Chief Operating Officer of Optimal Payments, added: “Zoë’s success last season and her incredible determination made this an easy decision. She exemplifies hard work and it is great to see this in the results she’s delivering. We look forward to another successful season in the run up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.”

The sponsorship of Zoë Gillings follows the announcement earlier this year that Optimal Payments is an Official Partner of the Lotus F1 Team, who finished fourth in the F1 Constructors’ Championship this season.