Shorts: Urc, Leicester Tigers, Scottish Rugby

Destination Sport Travel Group has announced new partnership with United Rugby Championship. 

The deal will see Destination Sport ‘provide 24/7 support with travel, accommodation, and ground transportation’ for the URC Grand Final. 

The partnership will also see Sportsbreaks.com, Destination Sport Group’s fan travel division, offer supporter packages including tickets and hotel breaks for the URC Grand Final. 

Rob Slawson, Managing Director of Destination Sport Travel, said, “With teams across Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales, the United Rugby Championship is a competition which features a significant volume of travel for corporates, staff and match officials. 

“We look forward to providing a best-in-class travel provision for United Rugby Championship and its teams, staff and officials, plus creating a new range of supporter travel packages via our Sportsbreaks.com brand.” 

Martin Anayi, CEO of the United Rugby Championship added, “We are a global league across two hemispheres and ensuring that everything runs smoothly is a top priority, and we are delighted that we have a partner on board that will get us where we need to be. 

“The URC Grand Final is a culmination of the best-of-the-best in rugby, and we are delighted to have Sportsbreaks.com on board to ensure our fans are able to enjoy this annual rugby spectacle.” 

Professional rugby union club Leicester Tigers has renewed its partnership with De Montfort University (DMU). 

As per agreement, the Tigers will continue to host a student hackathon for DMU students as well as employing two interns to gain work experience for three months in the club’s Partnership Department. 

Mattioli Woods Welford Road will also continue to host Varsity each year for the men’s and women’s fixtures between DMU and University of Leicester. 

Sarah Thomson, Director of Engagement at De Montfort University, said, ‘’Our partnership with Leicester Tigers merges academic expertise with sporting excellence, creating a unique experience for students, staff and the community. 

“Together, we support initiatives that blend sports and education to inspire excellence beyond the playing field.” 

Mark Davies, Chief Revenue Officer at Leicester Tigers, added, “We are delighted to renew our partnership with De Montfort University. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to excellence both on the pitch and in fostering educational opportunities for the next generation.” 

Scottish Rugby has announced a collaboration with NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and Brain Health Scotland to deliver player welfare training. 

Open for members of the public and spectators across Scotland, participants will have the opportunity to ‘engage in dynamic, interactive sessions that focus on concussion awareness and promoting brain health for older individuals.’  

The training will be delivered from the NES Mobile Skills Unit (MSU) at Scottish Gas Murrayfield during the month of December. 

Professor Karen Reid, CEO of NES, said, “Concussion in sport is a serious issue, and people need to know how to treat it and what to do if it occurs. That’s why we’re delighted that our Mobile Skills Unit is able to support these rugby events. 

“At NES we provide education and training that supports better health for the people of Scotland. Our MSU is a state-of-the-art simulation facility which tours Scotland giving healthcare professionals and other people a chance to learn or improve their life-saving skills. Our simulators will help people understand the latest guidance around concussion and learn what they need to do to if they’re ever called upon.” 

The Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women’s rugby union competition, has confirmed its new competition format. 

The event has revealed that it will now include two Scottish teams aligned to Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors, of which they will wear the official colours of both teams respectively. 

Irish Rugby has combined four provinces into two teams – Connacht and Munster competing as Clovers and Leinster and Ulster as Wolfhounds. 

Its Welsh counterpart has created two new teams – Brython Thunder, playing at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, and Stadiwm CSM in Colwyn Bay, and Gwalia Lightning based at Cardiff Arms Park. 

Gemma Fay, Head of Women’s & Girls’ Strategy said at Scottish Rugby said, “The decision to align our Celtic Challenge teams to Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors presents a fantastic opportunity to provide our two teams with a strong individual identity and sense of belonging, whilst also tapping into each club’s current fan base. I know that Al Kellock, Doug Struth and their colleagues will do a great job in making our teams and their management feel part of their clubs.  

“This branding alignment plays a fundamental part in progressing our women’s and girls’ strategy, and as the Celtic Challenge Competition develops, we look forward to the prospect of that alignment being taken further as we continue to build towards semi-professional teams in the future.”