Industry Shorts: Rfu, Football Beyond Borders, Playstation
England Rugby has extended its partnership with Gilbert, which will continue as the Official Ball Supplier to the RFU.
The extension will see Gilbert provide rugby balls to all levels of the game, including all of the competitions run by the RFU.
The brand will also continue as the exclusive provider for the England Women’s team as well as the Allianz Premier 15s competition.
Football Beyond Borders has appointed former Street League CEO Matt Stevenson-Dodd as its new Chair of Trustees.During his tenure at Street League, between 2010 and 2019, Stevenson-Dodd oversaw an average 42% growth in impact every year as well as a 24% annual growth in income. Throughout his time, the organisation grew from two cities and 25 staff to 14 cities and 140 full time staff.
The news comes as Football Beyond Borders, which won the Tessa Jowell Social and Environmental Impact Award in association with Aberdeen Standard Investments at the Sport Industry Awards 2020 for its FBB Schools initiative, launched a new major national campaign, entitled Beyond Lockdown. The campaign features voices from communities across the UK highlighting the impact of exclusions, as well as school closures throughout the pandemic.
PlayStation and Real Madrid have announced a new strategic partnership, which will see the manufacturer’s PS5 and PlayStation4 become the Official Consoles of the LaLiga champions.
The agreement includes the club’s men’s and women’s teams, as well as the basketball team, and covers the whole PlayStation ecosystem, including PS VR and the digital services PlayStationPlus and PlayStation Now.
INEOS Automotive have appointed former JCB Head of Sponsorship Edd Hood as Global Partnerships Lead.
Hood will be tasked with leading on partnerships for the new INEOS Grenadier 4×4. The petrochemicals company has multiple interests in sport, owning the INEOS Grenadiers cycling team, the INEOS TEAM UK sailing team, and Ligue 1 football club OGC Nice. The brand also counts partnerships outside of its owned properties, with the likes of Mercedes F1.
European Athletics has announced that lubricant brand LIQUI MOLY has become an Official Partner of 2021 European Indoor Championships.
The event, which takes place in Poland from 5th – 7th March 2021, will see LIQUI MOLY gain rights to track advertising boards, digital rights, ticketing, VIP hospitality and fan activation.
The brand joins SPAR, Toyo Tires and Le Gruyère as a top tier partner of European Athletics.
Gallagher, the Title Partner of Premiership Rugby, has announced Erdington RFC as the inaugural ‘Gallagher Rugby Club of the Season’.
The insurance firm launched its shortlist for the accolade earlier in the year with its Ambassador Ugo Monye, who was on-hand again to surprise team members and present them with the award.
The rugby club – based in Birmingham – has committed to introducing rugby to inner city children, increasing participation in the game, and coming up with innovative ways to engage volunteers.
