World Rugby To Roll Out Joint Selection Process For Men’s And Women’s World Cups

World Rugby will award hosting rights to its next two men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups within the same process.

The international federation has announced details of the timeline and phases that will determine the hosts of the 2025 and 2029 women’s events and the 2027 and 2031 men’s events.

For the first time, the sport will have a 10 year strategic hosting roadmap maximising certainty for member unions, commercial partners, broadcasters and fans, providing the opportunity to develop an integrated legacy that delivers meaningful and sustainable strategic participation and fan growth.

The announcement comes after it was confirmed that Japan 2019 was the most economically-impactful Rugby World Cup ever, generating £4.3 billion in economic activity and delivering record broadcast and fan-engagement outcomes, placing Japan firmly on the major event hosting map.

It also underscores World Rugby’s objective that its showcase men’s and women’s properties are a low-investment, high return-on-investment proposition for nations in the modern context of cost effectiveness, meaningful legacy and sustainability hosting imperatives.

Recognising the impact of COVID-19 a more compact timetable will operate than previous processes, while collaboration and partnership to develop bespoke bids that optimise strategic objectives for host nations and the global game will be at the heart of the three-phase model which will launch in February 2021 and culminate with the selection of the four hosts at World Rugby’s annual meeting of Council in May 2022 as follows:

February 2021 – Dialogue Phase: An opportunity for open communication between World Rugby and unions, governments and other key stakeholders. This will allow potential hosts to understand the business and delivery model, how they will partner with World Rugby and ultimately build a compelling proposal.

May 2021 – Candidate Phase: The formal process begins. Candidates will construct their proposals with World Rugby providing ongoing clarification and support to ensure the best-possible model. The phase culminates with candidates submitting Candidate files, hosting agreements and guarantees in January 2022.

February 2022 – Evaluation Phase: Bids will be evaluated by relevant industry experts against the key criteria agreed by World Rugby Council. The evaluation report will be provided to Council for a vote in May 2022.
The long-term strategic approach will maximise knowledge transfer, preparation time and commercial opportunities for the hosts and World Rugby, while delivering sporting and financial certainty for national unions. Importantly, the process also supports the key objectives of the 2017-25 Women in Rugby Plan, designed to accelerate the global development of women’s rugby.

To assist unions with the process, World Rugby is developing a comprehensive report on the impact of hosting the showcase events, which will provide guidance on how to maximise participation, social, sustainability, commercial, economic, trade and diplomacy opportunities as well as the significant positive exposure opportunity delivered by rugby’s major events.

The extensive host selection process will comprise aligned criteria, milestones and evaluation with further details being announced in due course.

The announcement follows the World Rugby Council’s approval in October 2019 of joint nation bids and awarding two tournaments at the same time to maximise strategic opportunities within a growing sport. It also recognises the key outcomes from the RWC 2023 host selection review process announced in May 2018.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The global COVID-19 pandemic, while incredibly challenging, has provided the opportunity to press the reset button and examine how we can do things differently and better.

“This ground-breaking dual awarding process reflects our vision to further align the selection process of our men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups, providing longer-term certainty in terms of preparation and partnership with World Rugby for future hosts, maximising legacy, sustainability and engagement outcomes.

“This is also a process that recognises the need to adapt following the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a stronger partnership with interested nations in developing their hosting models. This process, combined with the announcement that Japan 2019 delivered a record £4.3 billion total economic impact for the host nation, will help maximise hosting interest for our top men’s and women’s 15s tournaments.”

The last men’s Rugby World Cup in 2019 attracting the biggest-ever domestic broadcast audience for a rugby match of more than 54 million and a participation boost of over 750,000, while a recent Nielsen study confirmed it delivered a significant boost to national pride.

Above all, it was a special event that united a nation through rugby, friendship and celebration, delivering record social, economic and sporting benefits. Rugby World Cup 2023 is being hosted by France and preparations are on track for a spectacular event for teams and fans.

The last women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland in 2017 also smashed previous attendance, broadcast and social media engagement records. The 2021 edition in New Zealand promises to raise the bar.

Member Insights: The R&A Innovates With Partners To Provide E-Open For Fans

When The Open Championship, one of sport’s great events of each year, was forced to be cancelled by the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, the R&A lost their keystone event for 2020. By innovating, they have found a way to keep partners and fans involved says John Espley, Head of Commercial Partnerships at The R&A.

Mastercard ambassadors Justin Rose and Graeme McDowell will be swapping their clubs for their keyboards as they face off in an all-star live exhibition match on Wednesday 12 August as part of the e-Open presented by Mastercard.

The showcase encounter between the two Major champions will be played over the back nine holes of Royal St George’s and will be made available to fans around the world via a livestream broadcast on The Open’s Official YouTube channel.

“In a year when The Open was cancelled, we wanted to create a digital experience so fans all over the globe could still enjoy elements of The Open”

So where the idea to create an event like this come from?

John Espley, The R&A’s Head of Commercial Partnerships, says:“As with many rights-holders, we continue to look for ways to enhance the overall product offering we provide our existing fans, but also seek to attract and engage with new audiences. In a year when The Open was cancelled, we wanted to create a digital experience so fans all over the globe could still enjoy elements of The Open virtually, with the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes.

How has the event been made possible by the R&A’s partners?

“The e-Open has been a fully collaborative initiative between The R&A, Mastercard – Patron of The Open, and WGT by Top Golf. Each partner has brought their own individual skills and attributes to the project with the outcome being something we hope will be really entertaining, for both those fans who participate in The e-Open, as well as those who tune in for the live streams.”

How does the competition work?

“Players of all skill levels from beginners to advanced gamers can take part in The e-Open on the WGT by Top Golf platform, where The Open’s iconic links golf features are impeccably recreated digitally to give fans a true celebration of The Open.”

“Each partner has brought their own individual skills and attributes to the project.”

The tournament has reached over 95,000 entries in the first three weeks of qualifying stages and the exhibition match is set to add to the excitement and drama of the inaugural event.

Justin Rose, who would have been making his nineteenth appearance at The Open this summer, said: “The e-Open is a fantastic initiative introduced by The R&A in partnership with Mastercard and I hope many fans around the world enjoy experiencing the unrelenting test of links golf from the comfort of their own homes.”

Graeme McDowell expressed his excitement about taking on Rose in the unique clash: “Playing against Justin in The e-Open Exhibition Match is going to be great fun, it’s very realistic, and I hope that contestants get as much fun out of playing a virtual Royal St Georges as I do from playing in The Open itself.”

The action will be live from 9pm BST on Wednesday 12 August via The Open’s Official YouTube channel.

Manchester City Signs Cadbury As Official Snacking Partner

Mondelēz International, owner of Cadbury, has today announced a partnership between Cadbury and Manchester City Football Club, making the UK’s favourite chocolate brand the Club’s official snacking partner.

The focus of the collaboration will initially celebrate worthy causes, individuals and businesses who have gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic to help those around them and deserve recognition. This emphasis reflects Manchester City and Cadbury’s shared values of creating deep, lasting relationships and assisting their local communities and those further afield.

In the first collaboration between the two brands, Cadbury will champion the Club’s Cityzens – City’s wide-reaching network of global supporters. ‘Cityzens’ from around the world will be given a platform to nominate the people, community initiatives or local businesses they’d like to recognise for their acts of kindness, generosity and support for those around them, over the course of the upcoming 2020/21 season.

Each month, Cadbury will work with Manchester City to award the ‘Cityzen of the Month’. Nominations will be made by registered Cityzens via City’s official website and mobile app, and then celebrated with fans and followers around the world across the Club’s digital platforms. This spotlight aims to give valuable visibility to the successful winner at a time when they need it most.

The winning entry will also receive 50 Manchester City squad branded Cadbury Dairy Milk bars to share with their friends, family or those who supported them throughout the pandemic.

Omar Berrada, Chief Operating Officer at Manchester City said: “This new partnership with Cadbury will truly have fans at the heart of it. We have been overwhelmed by the incredible efforts of City fans all over the world to support their communities in response to this pandemic and we are delighted that Cadbury will be helping us to celebrate these achievements.”

Samantha Greenwood, Global Brand Director at Cadbury added: “Every person and business, in every community, plays a vital role in our economic recovery. Manchester City’s fan base and the Cityzens network enables us to shine a light on the incredible work that these individuals and businesses have been doing, and we hope to boost the contribution each plays on our journey to recovery from the pandemic.”

Throughout the duration of the partnership, Cadbury will also be offering Manchester City fans unique access to their Club through a series of activities that fans can look out for over the coming months and seasons.

AC Milan Announce Banco BPM As First-Ever Official Shirt Sponsor For Women’s Team

Italian bank Banco BPM and AC Milan are delighted to announce a historic partnership, committing the brand to AC Milan Women front of shirt sponsorship on a multi-year deal. The brand’s commitment to women’s football was evident in September 2019, when Banco BPM kick-started the women’s season at their Milan headquarters.

This front of shirt sponsorship demonstrates AC Milan’s commitment to inclusive positioning and growth of the women’s game, supporting club ownership’s modern strategic vision to have the women’s team stand as their own financially and commercially independent entity, with a clearly defined identity – values and objectives that align seamlessly with the inclusive nature of BPM. The success of the women’s team over the last couple of seasons (finishing third twice and very nearly qualifying for the Champions League) has been received with immense pride by AC Milan ownership and the club is committed to building upon on-and-off field successes.

This partnership renewal is a strong example of AC Milan’s redefined partnership strategy, providing increased sponsorship inventory, thus greater potential for commercial partners moving forward.

The Banco BPM partnership builds on a community-driven association with AC Milan that will total 10 years upon conclusion of the renewal. With social conscience at the forefront of both brands, Banco BPM and AC Milan are important symbols within the city of Milan, placing a heavy emphasis on the development of grassroots football, driven via coaching clinics, and other social initiatives driven via Fondazione Milan.

“After having hosted the commencement party for AC Milan Women’s team last season” – commented Giuseppe Castagna, Banco BPM CEO, – “today we are proud to have our logo on the kit of these athletes whose hard work and dedication prove the importance of playing sport at such a high level. One of the objectives the Bank has set itself is to promote awareness of gender equality, supporting all-female activities and projects which valorize women and their human and professional expertise. This partnership with a great club like AC Milan allows us to accomplish our goal while sharing the values of sport: team spirit, passion and hard work as sport is synonymous with education, training, social responsibility and integration”.

“We watch the women’s team with immense pride at AC Milan and we are thrilled that one of our most valuable partners Banco BPM has made the commitment to support our vision for growth, becoming the team’s first independent shirt sponsor. The passion and professionalism that the Rossonere show every day is unmatched and, as a club that prides itself on inclusiveness and integrity, we at AC Milan are confident that this is just the beginning of great things to come, with the support of Banco BPM”. AC Milan CEO Ivan Gazidis

The Women’s First Team Captain, Valentina Giacinti, added: “Stepping out onto the pitch with our own identity and seeing first-hand the club’s commitment to the growth of our team and our game really does give us the confidence and belief that we can continue to succeed on-and-off the field. To see this level of commitment from not only Banco BPM but AC Milan at such a difficult time socially and financially really does speak volumes. This is a very exciting step and I am extremely proud to lead the team out wearing the new jersey”.

Formula E Sign “Long-Term” Partnership With German Free-To-Air Broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1

From Season 7, which starts in January 2021, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will become the only major international motorsport on free-to-air television in Germany, with ProSiebenSat.1 airing all races live as part of new long-term partnership.

The “ran”-racing-crew of SAT.1 will be on the ground at races bringing fans all the latest news and reaction from the paddock. High production programming will be presented by recognisable motorsport talent ensuring the excitement and unpredictable racing of Formula E is showcased to Germany’s passionate motorsport audience. To complement the live race programming, ProSiebenSat.1 and Formula E will develop non-live and ancillary electric mobility and motorsport content designed for the electric generation of technology-savvy and young, sustainability conscious viewers.

Germany is a priority market for Formula E and its ecosystem. Berlin is the only city to have featured on the calendar in every season and is currently hosting Formula E’s season finale of six races in nine days. Championship partners Allianz, BMW i, Bosch, DHL and HUGO BOSS are all German brands and four major German automotive manufacturers – Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche – compete for the series title.

This deal with ProSiebenSat.1 will allow more households to tune into Formula E to experience the energy, excitement and close quarter racing that the championship has become known for. Viewers will also discover more about the innovation that sits at the heart of the purpose-driven sport, founded to counteract climate change by accelerating the development and adoption of electric vehicles.

CHIEF MEDIA OFFICER AT FORMULA E – AARTI DABAS

“Germany is an important market for Formula E, our teams, manufacturers and partners. ProSiebenSat.1’s focus on delivering localised and high-quality coverage using diverse talent and innovative presentation will enable us to grow the reach, engagement and affinity for our sport. Our partnership with ProSiebenSat.1 will deepen our connections with Formula E fans in Germany through localised activities and custom content targeting the electric generation. As we enter our first season as an FIA World Championship this partnership will ensure Formula E reaches the broadest possible German audience.”

MANAGING DIRECTOR OF 7SPORTS – STEFAN ZANT

“Electric mobility is an absolute future topic and the best example of our strategy of not only acquiring new rights but also building up innovative topics in the long-term. We have numerous plans for presenting and delivering sustainability and electric mobility beyond the mere racing season. The broadcast of Formula E on all platforms should be of interest to all advertising partners who want to engage in a sustainable environment.”

“RAN”-CHIEF SPORTS OFFICER – ALEXANDER ROSNER

“Formula E already offers thrilling racing at the highest level and will be an official FIA World Championship from 2021. Our ‘ran racing’ team is excited to be accompanying and shaping this fascinating path of sustainable formula motorsport in the long term and to giving Formula E – as the racing series of the future – a home on German free-to-air television.”

BHA Board Welcomes Julie Harrington As New Chief Executive

The BHA Board has chosen the Chief Executive of British Cycling, Julie Harrington, to be the new head of British horseracing’s governing body and regulator.

She will take over the post at the beginning of 2021 after nearly 4 years leading British Cycling, which has more than 160,000 grassroots members and is responsible for the elite team preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Julie Harrington is a former member of the BHA Board and was a senior executive with Northern Racing for 8 years, including a spell as Managing Director of Uttoxeter. She is one of the most experienced leaders in sport, with a strong background in consumer, operational and regulatory roles, and a clear understanding of the financial challenges facing participants.

As the Operations Director for the FA, she was responsible for Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park, the FA training facility. Her early career was with Whitbread Inns as Regional Marketing Director and then with British Airways as Retail Sector Director. She has been responsible for managing British Cycling’s relationship with HSBC UK, its leading sponsor and partner.

As Chief Executive of British Cycling, she has dealt with some significant regulatory challenges. The role has also involved engagement with UK Sport and Sport England over elite funding and growing participation, achieving its target for more than two million cyclists by 2020. It works closely with the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport and the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales through their national cycling bodies.

BHA Chair, Annamarie Phelps, commented:

“I am delighted that Julie is coming back to the BHA and to racing and the Board and I are looking forward to working closely with her. This is a vital leadership role for the organisation and British racing. Julie’s hands-on knowledge of horseracing, coupled with her governance and business experience, make her the ideal person to carry on with the task of restoring sustainable prosperity after the COVID crisis. We’ve got the right person, for the right job, at the right time.”

Julie Harrington said:

“I’m so excited to be coming home to racing and playing my part helping this great sport to achieve a prosperity from which everyone benefits. I know how important collaboration across racing has been over the past few months and I look forward to working with colleagues from all parts of the sport.

“The BHA and its team of dedicated officials do a great job in keeping racing safe, clean and fair. I am proud to take on this leadership role in such a well-regulated sport, which enriches the lives of horses and people, and has a special place at the centre of national life and our rural communities.”

Julie Harrington will join the BHA on January 4th after completing her notice period at British Cycling. Nick Rust continues to lead the BHA as it works with industry bodies on resumption and recovery. A revised  industry plan is due to be published shortly.

Annamarie added:

“Nick and his team are working closely with the RCA and The Horsemen’s Group to get racing through the next phase of COVID19, to  bring back the public, and support our owners and investors in the sport. There’ll be no let-up over the coming months and the sport will see a seamless transition to our new CEO. I want to thank all those at the BHA and the industry bodies who are working so hard and I’m confident that racing will continue to lead the way towards a full resumption of sport.”

Real Betis Announce Betway As New Shirt Sponsor

LaLiga side Real Betis have revealed that Betway will be their new main shirt sponsor from the beginning of the 2020/21 season in a couple of weeks’ time.

Current sponsor Easymarkets have opted to cancel their three-year deal with the club following only the first season, with the original contract set to expire in the summer of 2022.

Betway are also the front of shirt sponsor for West Ham United, and three other clubs in Spain – Deportivo Alaves, Levante and Leganes – plus a sponsor of Werder Bremen.

“The Choice Of Our Stadium For Another European Competition Final Is A Source Of Pride”

Just a few months ago it looked like the planned 2020 Champions League Final in Istanbul would not be occurring, however, thankfully football organisations around Europe have been able to get plans in place to host a special one off Champions League tournament for the final 8 teams over the next two weeks in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, so iSportconnect spoke to Luís Filipe Vieira, President of Benfica, whose home stadium Estádio da Luz, will host the final.

How pleased are you that UEFA have been able to come to the decision and that Lisbon will be hosting the final champions league tournament later this month?

For Portugal and Lisbon, this decision recognizes the way our country has managed to deal with this serious pandemic and the quality of the sports and hotel infrastructures existing in our country. Portugal is a tourist destination of excellence that guarantees quality and safety at all levels. For Benfica, the choice of our stadium for another European competition final, the third since its inauguration some 17 years ago, is a source of pride and confirms the prestige of Estádio da Luz.

“The return of national and international competitions reinforces the confidence that we will be able to overcome this difficult time”

Do you think it was important to make sure these games were staged to preserve the integrity of the competition going forward?

By ensuring the completion of the final games of this year’s Champions League, the losses that this pandemic caused at all levels were minimised as much as possible. It is important for the integrity of the competition, even with the games behind closed doors, to complete this year’s edition so that in September when the new edition commences, the previous year would be fully decided.  

The Estádio da Luz last hosted the UEFA Champions League final in 2014.

How important is the role that sport can play in boosting the morale of the general public during such a difficult time as this as we have been experiencing all over the world?

Sport and football in particular have played an absolutely decisive role so that the community gradually feels that life begins to return to normal. Still, a very conditioned normality is certain, but the return of this passion that cuts across all social strata, the return of national and international competitions reinforces the confidence that we will be able to overcome this difficult time and return as much as possible to the life we ​​had.

What are some of the ways you have been trying to keep your massive fanbase at Benfica engaged over the past couple of months?

Even at the height of the pandemic and confinement, we kept the club’s communication channels producing daily content and information for our supporters, including the various ongoing solidarity actions, how athletes managed their daily lives, training at home, and a lot of communication involving coaches and athletes.

“The Choice Of Our Stadium For Another European Competition Final Is A Source Of Pride”

It was tireless daily work, which in some cases, even increased the knowledge about the internal life of the club and its idols for the millions of Benfica fans around the world.

Do you think there are any lasting changes we might see in sport as a result of the Covid-19 crisis?

It is still too early to make a very rigorous analysis and evaluation. But at different levels, there are some changes that are certainly here to stay, for example, the new rule of allowing five substitutions per game per team. Some consider that, like other methods, is able to increase the competitive levels of the teams over the ninety minutes. For us we will wait and see what happens in the future.

Williams Racing Confirms Umbro UK As Official Team Kit Supplier

Williams Racing is pleased to announce a new long-term partnership with Umbro UK. The English sports brand will be the Official Team Kit Supplier from the start of the 2021 season, when the double-diamond of Umbro will be worn by the team.

This announcement comes ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone this weekend. Silverstone is a track familiar to Umbro, having been with the team for the 1987 British Grand Prix which saw Nigel Mansell hunt down his Williams teammate Nelson Piquet to take a famous victory at the iconic circuit. As homage to this, the Umbro logo will feature on the front wing end plate of the FW43 this weekend.

Umbro will join Williams Racing with nearly a hundred years of experience in developing performance products for elite teams. The brand’s extensive experience, its pioneering approach to developing kit and rigorous testing methods mean Umbro is ready to support Williams and the unique demands the team will face at each stage of the season from 2021 onwards.

Tim Hunt, Commercial and Marketing Director of Williams Racing commented: “We are delighted to be welcoming Umbro back to the Williams commercial family. It’s been a long time since our association in 1987 but in that time, Umbro have established themselves as a globally recognised brand in sport. Both Williams and Umbro have a rich history and proudly sit as iconic British brands who share the same fighting spirit and I am excited by the opportunity that this new partnership brings.”

Sam Lucas, Head of Sports Sponsorship – Umbro UK, commented: “We are extremely excited to be back in partnership with Williams Racing. The demands of Formula One go way beyond the cars on track, with performance at the heart of everything. As a brand, Umbro prides itself on producing the best kit to meet the demands of elite sport. With our experience in this area, we are excited to bring this to Williams Racing and play a part in the teams’ pursuit of success.”

“Umbro’s approach has always been a pioneering one, when it comes to the kit we develop. We have a proven track record in performance sports apparel and aim to achieve the same with our recent rugby partnership. This is no different to Williams Racing and their innovation on and off track, so we are looking forward to working together as of next season.”

Hisense And Paris Saint-Germain Announce Global Partnership

Internationally renowned football club Paris Saint-Germain today announces leading consumer electronics and home appliances company, Hisense as their latest global sponsor in a multi-year partnership.

Hisense has been creating award winning TVs, consumer electronics and home appliances sold globally over the last 50 years. This new partnership will highlight Hisense’s mission to enhance the viewing experience for football fans around the world and will see them working alongside the club to showcase their range of products.

With ground-breaking technology in TV and home appliances, Hisense is perfectly positioned to enable the best home viewing experience for Paris Saint-Germain fans.  As well as seeing the Hisense brand and product range showcased to huge audiences in the Parc des Princes stadium and around the world, via broadcast, digital and social channels, the partnership will also see Hisense provide a wide range of innovative products to the club to support its needs across its various facilities, including its new training centre.

Alex Zhu, the president of Hisense International, said, “We are excited to team up with Paris Saint-Germain, one of the most successful and fastest growing clubs in the world. They have always pursued breakthroughs in technology and innovation in everything that they do, which coincides perfectly with Hisense’s mission of “pursuing scientific and technological innovation and bringing happiness to millions of families”. We believe that through this partnership, we can create the best possible at home viewing experience for Paris Saint-Germain and its fans throughout the world.”

Marc Armstrong, Chief Partnerships Officer at Paris Saint-Germain commented : “We are delighted to welcome Hisense to the Paris Saint-Germain family and to be partnering with such a world-leading consumer electronics and home appliances company. It will provide an excellent opportunity to reach and interact with our fans across the world via the creation of powerful experiences and opportunities and we look forward to helping Hisense achieve its global ambitions.”

Sébastien WASELS, Managing Director Asia Pacific at Paris Saint-Germain added, “We are proud to be working with such a leading global brand from Asia Pacific. This is a meaningful partnership for the club, demonstrating our growing commitment to the region. We are looking forward to bringing the Paris Saint-Germain experience into more people’s homes around the world. Together with Hisense, we will also come closer to our fans in China where the Hisense headquarters are located.”

Today’s announcement builds on Hisense’s continued commitment to sport through sponsorship of major sporting properties around the globe, including the partnership with the 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA EURO 2016, Formula One Red Bull racing and Australia Open. The sponsorship celebrates Hisense’s presence on the world stage, with the products exported to over 160 countries and regions.  

Paris Saint-Germain and Hisense have been at the forefront of innovation in recent years, with the two brands now working together to bring high quality entertainment into people’s homes.