O2 Invites England To #weartherose
England Rugby partner, O2, has unveiled details of its 2015 campaign, which marks 20 years of the sponsorship this year, launched to coincide with the start of the RBS 6 Nations this weekend.
Continuing from the brands 2014 campaign, ‘Wear the Rose’ is “a call to arms for the entire country to get behind the England Rugby Team.”
The campaign begins with a new ad – to be launched on O2’s YouTube page ahead of Friday’s England match in Wales – showcasing the difference that the power of support can make.
Throughout the year, O2 will be championing ‘Wear the Rose’ across TV, print, video-on-demand, digital out of home, radio and social channels to encourage fans to be part of the campaign.
O2 will again be working with England Rugby to bring messages of support tweeted using #WearTheRose directly to the England training camp at Pennyhill Park. These fan messages will also be collected and displayed on digital billboards across the country including Waterloo Station and the West Fan Village at Twickenham.
Customers who demonstrate their support via social and on match days will have the opportunity to receive exclusive rewards, experiences and offers via Priority.
O2 will also be touring cities and rugby clubs across the country with a virtual reality sports experience, using the Oculus Rift technology. The experience will allow people to train with England without ever having to set foot on a blade of grass.
It will be available in the O2 Blueroom during RBS 6 Nations match days at Twickenham.
Gareth Griffiths, head of sports sponsorship at O2 commented: “We’re launching Wear the Rose at the start of an amazing year for O2 and England Rugby. We are calling upon the country to stand beside us, and get behind the England Rugby Team.
“To do that we need a symbol that represents the very heart of England, a symbol sewn onto the chest of every England Rugby shirt – the red rose. If you’re going to watch England play at Twickenham, down the pub with your mates, or even at home, show the power of your support – get your England Rugby shirt on, Wear the Rose.”
Stuart Lancaster, England head coach added: “The power of support can be the difference between victory and defeat. The support we get is fantastic and I’m sure that in this special year for rugby our fans can be that difference.
“As players and coaches we thrive on support, it can provide that extra 10% which in a game of small margins, can be so important. We’re delighted O2 are bringing fans right to the heart of their campaign.”
