Rugby Football Union Name SSE as Community Partner

August 11, 2011

Rugby Football Union (RFU) have named Energy company Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) as their National Community Partner.

The three-year partnership will see SSE invest heavily to support community rugby in England and they will also take the title sponsorship of the National and Divisional Leagues.

SSE want the local Rugby clubs to tell them what resources would most accomodate them and once they have had their say through the ‘What Clubs Need’ survey, SSE will use these results to try and provide the clubs with what they need through a programme of rewards, resources and opportunities for rugby clubs. 

Every respondent gets 10% off at the RFU’s online store, and those who offer greater detailed responses stand a chance of winning tickets to watch England in the 2012 RBS 6 Nations.

At the launch event this week, an example of ‘What clubs Need’ was shown with SSE National League 3 side Bracknell RFC announced as the first club to benefit from additional resource to give their season a boost. 

England International and SSE ambassador Tom Croft visited the club, providing their National League First XV with a training session and delivering the good news that SSE would be giving them exactly what they need in the form of a contribution to their much-needed floodlights.

“Having grown up in the English club rugby system, I know what a difference any additional support and investment can make to local rugby clubs – especially the smaller clubs in the lower Leagues” said Tom Croft.

“It’s great to see SSE taking an interest in the future of the game by investing where it is needed the most. That will make all the difference. It certainly has here at Bracknell” he added.

Stephen Forbes, director of sales, marketing and energy services for SSE added: “SSE is a growing brand, known better to many of our English customers as Southern Electric, and our primary focus is on delivering the best possible service for our customers – in short, making their lives easier in as many ways as we can. 

“Our partnership with the RFU will help us do this for rugby clubs and their surrounding communities all over the UK – with a particular focus on the areas we serve and provide for. We’re excited about our forthcoming plans that will bring this to bear”.

Sophie Goldschmidt, chief commercial officer at RFU concluded: “The announcement of SSE’s investment in the grassroots game is a credit to both SSE’s dedication to the development of the sport and the work of the Union. 

“The new partnership provides important additional funding which will help to continue the outstanding work of community rugby coaches all around the country”.