Emirates On Board For Rwc 2015

Dubai-based airline Emirates has renewed its partnership with the Rugby World Cup, and will continue as a worldwide partner of the next two editions, in England next year and Japan in 2019.

The extension, announced by Rugby World Cup Limited on Monday, will also see Emirates serve as the International Rugby Board match officials’ sponsor. 

In an expansion of the existing agreement from 2006, the airline’s logo will feature on the front of match official shirts, the first time a sponsor has occupied the space at a World Cup.

RWCL managing director Brett Gosper said of the news: ‘This deal represents the largest and most wide-ranging sponsorship deal in the history of Rugby World Cup. We are well on track to secure and announce the full Rugby World Cup 2015 commercial programme in record time, which is great for the tournament and great for rugby at a time when the sport is experiencing unprecedented global profile, participation and commercial appeal.’

England Rugby 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans added: ‘We welcome Emirates as the official airline of Rugby World Cup, a company that has a longstanding partnership with the sport of rugby. We look forward to working closely with them in the lead up to Rugby World Cup 2015.’

Emirates joins Heineken, Land Rover, Société Générale and DHL as an official worldwide partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, while Gilbert has signed on as the official ball supplier, Canterbury of New Zealand as the official sportswear supplier and Clifford Chance will be the official law firm. 

Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, commented: ‘Rugby is a core part of Emirates’ sports sponsorship portfolio. We’ve supported rugby around the world for more than 20 years, and we are glad to have helped connect hundreds of thousands of passionate rugby fans from around the globe through these events. rugby is an international sport that reaches an international audience, many of whom are Emirates customers.’