Shorts: Rugby League, Women’s Elite Rugby, Wattbike

RL Commercial has extended its partnership with rugby league ball specialist Steeden until 2030.

The five-season extension means Steeden balls will continue to be used across the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Super Leagues, and throughout the UK’s Rugby League pyramid.

Steeden will also supply balls for the return of the Rugby League Ashes Series this autumn.

Rhodri Jones, Managing Director of RL Commercial, said, “We’re delighted to confirm this long-term partnership with Steeden. They are an iconic Rugby League brand, and their balls are regarded as the gold standard by the tens of thousands of men, women, boys and girls who play the sport in the UK.”

Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) has partnered with digital media solutions provider PT SportSuite.

WER has selected UK-based PT SportSuite’s BiblioDAM digital asset management platform to streamline media workflows during its recently launched inaugural season.

The league features six franchises across major US cities and aims to revolutionise professional women’s rugby, providing a platform for elite athletes.

BiblioDAM will serve as the core of WER’s media operations, providing a centralised, cloud-based platform for storing, managing, and distributing digital content such as photos, videos, and graphics for teams, staff, media partners, and stakeholders.

Jessica Hammond-Graf, President, WER, said, “This is a crucial moment in time for women’s rugby and we look forward to utilising a platform that will allow us to store and share digital content to engage fans, build community, and enhance our storytelling capabilities about the growth and evolution of women’s rugby in the United States.”

Wattbike has been acquired by Interactive Strength Inc. (TRNR)

The deal combines the businesses to create an international operation anchored in the US, Germany, and the UK.

TRNR expects the acquisition to help generate over $65m in pro forma revenue in 2025. The acquisition is TRNR’s third since its IPO and is expected to close as early as the second quarter of 2025, subject to standard regulatory requirements.

Stephen Loftus, CEO, Wattbike, said, “This deal gives our latest product launches and renewed growth a larger, scaled platform for marketing and distribution that will dramatically and cost-effectively accelerate our expansion across key international markets, while staying true to our commitment to deliver world-class training solutions for athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike.”

Fan engagement agency Engage Digital Partners has promoted Ollie Trenchard to Growth Director, APAC.

Trenchard joined Engage, part of media, marketing and technology company Brave Bison, in 2020, bringing experience from Japan, Germany, and the UK across sponsorship activation, digital content, and broadcast.

He has led client partnerships such as securing Premiership Rugby, United Rugby Championship, and Six Nations in the UK, and delivered campaigns for New Zealand Rugby & All Blacks during the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

In his new role, Trenchard will drive Engage’s growth across Australasia and the wider APAC region, leveraging his experience with rights-holders, federations, and sponsors.

He will also lead the integration of Brave Bison’s performance services and SocialChain’s influencer marketing expertise into Engage’s offerings.

Ollie Trenchard, Growth Director, APAC, commented, “We’re amidst a golden decade for sport in Australia, with the Rugby World Cup 2027 & 2029 and 2032 Olympics set to grace our shores, and there’s no better place to be a part of it than the sporting capital of the world in Melbourne.”

Marketing Derby Bondholder Champions (UK) plc has agreed a headline sponsorship deal with the Legends Tour for the European Senior Masters golf competition.

The competition acts as a major date in the annual Legends Tour calendar, which is part of the DP World Tour. Champions (UK) plc previously acted in an events hosting capacity for the tournament and has been involved with the sport for over 20 years.

The sponsorship adds to the company’s existing sports partnerships, which include the Great Britain Rugby Sevens sides and Leicester City.

Matthew Hayes, Managing Director, Champions (UK) plc, said, “his partnership perfectly aligns with not only our decades’ worth of involvement in the growth of golf, but also our business ambitions and results-based solutions.”

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