Industry Shorts: London Irish, Cazoo, Uci

London Irish have announced plans to launch a women’s team, which will formally apply for a place in the Allianz Premier 15s,

The club aims for the women’s team to join the game’s top tier during the next intake of teams, which is due in 2023.

The Gallagher Premiership side says it recognises the growth of the women’s game and aims to provide a ‘dual pathway’ for elite players to progress on both domestic and international stages.

The club will also work with St Mary’s University Twickenham, with which it already has a long-standing relationship. The women’s team will work with the university in a partnership which will see the pair share coaches and talent, as well as identifying players for on-the-field success alongside their academic studies.

Cazoo has appointed Mike Mainwaring as its new Head of Sponsorship.

Mainwaring, who was previously Head of Sponsorship and Events at England Rugby partner Quilter, before launching Phoenix Sponsorship in 2020, takes on the role at the online car buying platform which has recently launched a spate of sponsorship deals within sport.

Already in 2021, Cazoo has announced major partnership deals with the Jockey Club for the Epsom Derby, the World Snooker Tour, and the EFL. It is also the front of shirt sponsor for Premier League side’s Everton and Aston Villa, as well as the Principal Partner for both The Hundred and the Rugby League World Cup 2021.

The UCI has announced six ‘Founding Riders’ who will take part in the inaugural Track Champions League, a new competition which begins in November and aims to boost the status of track cycling.

The six riders will ‘bring the human story behind the event to life’ in the build up to and during the competition.

Britain’s Ed Clancy – a gold medal winner at the Beijing, London, and Rio Olympic Games, who could become the first track cyclist to triumph at four different Games – will be one of the six. He will be joined by Germany’s Emma Hinze, the Netherlands’ Harrie Lavreysen, France’s Mathilde Gros, Spain’s Sebastian Mora, and Lithuania’s Simona Krupeckaite.

Channel 4 has commissioned a new documentary featuring Crystal Palace.

The series – which has the working title The Academy – will ‘capture the hopes and dreams’ of players, coaches, and staff at the club’s academy as youngsters look to achieve their potential.

Filmed over 12 months, the series will follow the ‘unique relationships’ between the staff and the families of the players who are all aged between eight and 18, and aims to reveal the work that goes into developing the next generation of footballing talent. 

The series will be produced by South Shore, which is the company behind a number of other youth-focussed Channel 4 series Educating Yorkshire and Royal Marines Commando School. 

The RFU will no longer use the name ‘England Saxons’ for its men’s development team, according to multiple reports.

The team will switch back to being known as ‘England A’, as it was before the ‘Saxons’ rebrand in 2006. 

According to the reports, the move is part of the RFU’s drive to foster greater diversity and inclusion in the game. Earlier this year it announced the launch of a new Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group, chaired by former players Ugo Monye and Giselle Mathers.

ASICS has announced a new multi-year extension to its partnership with Novak Djokovic, who will remain its Global Footwear Ambassador.

The pair initially launched their partnership in 2018, and the new deal will see the brand ‘further expand’ its global tennis footwear business through Djokovic’s ‘continued insights and feedback on the production of tennis footwear’. 

Since joining ASICS, Djokovic has won six major titles and climbed to world number 1.

On-demand and live streaming service LIVENow has announced it will broadcast the upcoming finals of both the Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup.

Both finals will be available to watch live and on-demand up to 30 days after each match on LIVENow, which was launched in 2020 by Leeds, ELEVEN, and Aser Ventures Founder Andrea Radrizzani.  

The final of the top tier tournament is an all-French tie between Toulouse and La Rochelle which takes place on 22nd May, with the second tier final taking place between Montpellier and Leicester Tigers on the previous night.

Roberto Carlos has been announced as a Global Ambassador for Gazprom’s Football for Friendship (F4F) programme.

The Real Madrid and Brazil legend has participated in the international children’s programme since 2019 when he first promoted the project and took part in its event in Madrid.

This year, Carlos will connect with young participants from 211 countries and regions to share his experience as a footballer.