Shorts: ECB, Harry Brook, Scottish Rugby

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced partnerships with three charities for the next two years.

The Ruth Strauss Foundation becomes the Test Match Charity Partner, The Bob Willis Fund is named the Men’s White Ball Charity Partner, and The Eve Appeal takes the role of Women’s White Ball Charity Partner.

Each charity will be highlighted on a specific match-day during the summer season to support their fundraising and awareness campaigns. Red for Ruth day, supporting the Ruth Strauss Foundation which aids families where a parent has incurable cancer and funds non-smoking lung cancer research, will return to Lord’s on the 11th July, during the England v India Men’s Test Match.

Blue For Bob Day, supporting The Bob Willis Fund’s work in funding prostate cancer research and improving diagnosis, will take place at Edgbaston on Thursday, 29th May, during the Men’s One-Day International between England and West Indies.

The Eve Appeal, which funds research and raises awareness for the five gynaecological cancers, will have its dedicated day during the Women’s Vitality IT20 between England and India at the Kia Oval on 4th July.

Richard Thompson, ECB Chair, said, “The Ruth Strauss Foundation, The Bob Willis Fund, and The Eve Appeal are all doing incredible work in their respective fields, and we’re proud to support them.

“Cricket has the power to bring people together, and we are committed to using our platform to make a meaningful difference.”

England T20 and ODI captain Harry Brook has been named as the first official athlete for HiTZ Cricket.

HiTZ provides technology-driven cricket training facilities and aims to improve accessibility to the sport across the UK. The company operates several facilities and plans further expansion as part of its growth plans. Over 260,000 balls have been delivered across HiTZ sites recently.

Founded by former community coach Dominic Reed to address limitations in traditional cricket experiences, HiTZ uses BatFast ball tracking cameras and instant video replay systems. This offers data-led training sessions designed to be accessible and flexible, aligning with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s ‘Inspiring Generations’ strategy to remove barriers to entry in cricket. Brook has partnered with HiTZ to help promote its model.

Harry Brook said, “What HiTZ are doing is genuinely changing the game. I’ve seen first-hand how the incredible facilities are transforming cricket, offering data-driven sessions and inspiring the next generation.

“They truly are redefining the sport and it doesn’t matter what level you play, everyone can get incredible, real-time feedback through its instant video replay and ball-tracking cameras. It’s clear to see how passionate the team at HiTZ are about making the sport more accessible.“

Scottish Rugby has appointed Olaf Gueldner as its first Chief Customer Officer to oversee its commercial, brand, marketing, digital, and content strategies.

Gueldner joins Scottish Rugby having previously held senior marketing leadership roles at The Jockey Club, where he worked on the commercial aspects of events such as The Cheltenham Festival, The Randox Grand National, and The Derby.

In his new role at Scottish Rugby, Gueldner will lead a commercial strategy aimed at achieving financial sustainability and long-term growth.

His focus will be on three core pillars: Digital & Content, Marketing & Brand and Commercialisation. A priority will be leveraging the potential of the Scottish Gas Murrayfield campus to drive new revenue streams.

Olaf Gueldner said, “An opportunity like this at Scottish Rugby is rare, and I am thrilled to step into this role. The passion and profile of rugby were huge draws for me, and I see immense potential to deepen our connection with fans, enhance our commercial offering, and drive the financial growth needed to support the future and success of the game in Scotland.”

McLaren Racing have announced they will enter the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) from the 2027 season.

The team will compete in the championship’s top Hypercar category, marking a return to the global endurance racing stage.

Driving the McLaren F1 GTR, the team won the Le Mans 24 Hours race at their first attempt, an achievement which also secured the Triple Crown of Motorsport for the manufacturer (winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and Le Mans 24 Hours).

The team, founded by racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963, currently competes across five other racing series: the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, F1 Academy, and the F1 Sim Racing Championship.

The addition of a WEC Hypercar programme from 2027 represents an expansion of their motorsport activities, pitting them against other manufacturers in the fight for overall victory at Le Mans and in the World Championship.

Cycling Time Trials has announced a new partnership with Nopinz.

National governing body for time trialling in England, CTT has joined forces with Nopinz, a UK aerodynamic cycling apparel brand and supporter of the British time trial community.

The collaboration aims to drive innovation, inclusivity and performance, following CTT’s introduction of a dedicated road bike classification in 2023.

CTT and Nopinz will also collaborate on cross-promotional initiatives to support riders at every level.

Loughborough Lightning Netball have announced Element Passive Fire Protection as a matchday sponsor for the 2025 Netball Super League season.

The deal sees Element gain a significant presence at three home fixtures this season, which began against London Pulse on 22nd March. Element branding will feature on fan clappers, in-venue, and in the fan zone.

Element Passive Fire Protection, based in Sutton Bonington, provide fire compartmentation surveys, fire door installation, and fire protection services. The company also provide passive fire protection services.

The company will also support Lightning’s community focus with an under-18 ticket subsidy, allowing more young people to experience elite Netball in the Netball Super League (NSL).

Rich Ellis, Deputy Director of Sport at Loughborough, said, “We are particularly proud of the community aspect of the relationship, with Element providing young people with the opportunity to experience elite Netball, often for the first time, through the ticket subsidy.

“We look forward to the season together and working closely with Element at a number of home fixtures.”

The Irish Football Association (IFA) has signed a partnership agreement with builders merchant MacBlair.

The deal sees the Belfast-based company become the official builders merchant partner of the association, the Irish FA Foundation, and the Northern Ireland national teams.

MacBlair also becomes the title partner of the Irish FA Foundation’s People & Clubs programme and the new MacBlair Building Support Fund.

Through the partnership, the company aims to support the Northern Ireland football community via two new funds. The MacBlair Building Support Fund will directly support clubs by providing building materials for projects such as upgrading clubhouses or improving facilities.

A separate Club Support Fund will offer more general funding to assist clubs with essential needs like equipment, kit sponsorship, and operational costs. Applications for both funds are open via the IFA and MacBlair websites.

Stephen Bogle, Head of Commercial Operations, Irish FA, said, “The MacBlair Support Funds will provide vital assistance to clubs across Northern Ireland, helping them to grow, thrive and continue serving their communities.

“We’re proud to work with a partner that understands the power of football to create lasting, positive change.”

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