Sale Sharks Extends MBNA Partnership

Aviva Premiership Rugby team Sale Sharks has renewed their partnership with leading UK credit card provider MBNA in a new two-year Principal Partnership.

The Chester-based lender signed a three-year contract with Sale Sharks in 2011. With one year remaining, the two partners have moved to strengthen their agreement with a fresh deal lasting until the end of the 2015/16 season. 

As part of the contract extension, the MBNA brand will remain on Sale Sharks’ home and away kit and MBNA will also continue its sponsorship of the Main Stand at Sale Sharks’ AJ Bell Stadium near Manchester. 

The announcement was exclusively revealed to thousands of Sale Sharks fans before the club’s home fixture against Newcastle Falcons on Friday. 

“We’ve enjoyed a very close partnership with Sale Sharks over the past two seasons and we’re delighted to announce the extension of this into 2016,” said Ian O’Doherty (pictured left), Chief Executive of MBNA. “We are two organisations with our roots firmly established in the Northwest of England, and this is another special milestone for us.” 

Sale Sharks Director of Rugby, Steve Diamond (pictured right), added: “We’re delighted to have the backing of a blue chip company like MBNA; it is a business that has backed us to the hilt over recent years. We have a special relationship – as it says around our ground “Together, we are a team” – and we are pleased to be able to continue this for many years to come.”