Shorts: Urc, Women In Sport, Aston Martin

The BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) has announced a new deal with Italian sportswear brand Kappa.

Under terms of the agreement, Kappa will provide kits for all match officials in the competition, starting from the 2023-24 campaign.

Martin Anayi, Chief Executive Officer of the United Rugby Championship, commented, “We believe that the URC boasts the most eye-catching new brand in rugby with a richness that befits the excitement and diversity of our league. Kappa have a flair for mixing heritage with modern design and we can’t wait to see how they apply that approach to our match officials kit.

“Given their history of working with some of the biggest names in sport we know that not only will our referees and match officials look good, they will be wearing kit with a proven track record of supporting elite performance.”

Women in Sport has announced Julia Newton as its new chair of the Board of Trustees.

Julia is currently Chair of GB Taekwondo, and will continue that role alongside her position at Women in Sport until the end of her term.

Julia started her career at Nike in the US before co-founding sports marketing agency, Shine Communications. Over 15 years she helped grow Shine from a team of two to more than eighty and worked with global sports brands including Dunlop, Slazenger, Puma, and Reebok.

Julia also set up the charity, the Rural Refugee Network, which has worked both regionally and nationally to resettle refugees from Syria and other war-torn regions in rural parts of the UK.

Julia Newton, the new Chair of Women in Sport, said, “As someone who has always championed the cause of women’s empowerment and strongly believes in the life-changing potential of sport, Women in Sport’s remarkable work has long been an inspiration for me. Being offered the opportunity to work with this hugely respected and trailblazing charity is genuinely one of the most exciting moments of my career. I am honoured to be chosen to help lead Women in Sport as it continues its ground-breaking research, considered thought leadership and powerful collaborations.

“There has been a significant step change in the way women’s sport is viewed in the UK and it’s fantastic to see sold out stadiums and arenas but there is still a lot to do to ensure women and girls have both equality and equity at every life stage.  As a team we must sustain and capitalise on this speed of change and ensure greater access and opportunities for current and future generations so that every single female can enjoy the very real benefits and joy that sport can bring to our lives.”

Aston Martin has become the official high-performance partner of this year’s Derby Festival.

The British motorsport brand will become the title race partner of The Aston Martin Dash with the event at Epsom Downs Racecourse forming part of the manufacturer’s 110th anniversary celebrations in the UK.

Aston Martin models will also be showcased to guests throughout the two-day festival, with a special display to celebrate the marque’s historic 110th anniversary.

Oliver Turner, Regional President of Aston Martin in the UK, said, “Aston Martin is thrilled to become High-Performance Partner of The Derby Festival and title partner of The Aston Martin Dash, bringing our unique brand to an event steeped in history and prestige.

“Joining our other flagship events this summer like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and British Grand Prix, The Derby Festival provides another opportunity to celebrate Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary in the UK and creates an appropriate high-performance platform to showcase DBX707 to luxury audiences.”

James Crespi, General Manager at Epsom Downs Racecourse, added, “We are delighted to be partnering with the iconic luxury British sports car manufacturer in Aston Martin for The Dash, the world’s fastest horserace, as well as across the two days of The Derby Festival.”

Barnsley Football Club has launched its first-ever professional women’s team.

The team, which currently exists as part of Barnsley’s Reds in the Community programme and plays in the sixth tier of women’s football as Barnsley’s Ladies, will be rebranded as Barnsley FC as it starts next season in the fifth tier following promotion in a title-winning 22/23 campaign.

According to Barnsley, the professionalisation of the women’s team will see the club invest in a number of areas, including but not limited to; increased match-day support, the ability to play at the club’s home stadium Oakwell, access to sport science, training and physio teams, increased marketing and promotion and more.

Khaled El-Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of Barnsley FC, said, “We are proud to be bringing a women’s team into Barnsley FC. We have discussed this internally for more than thirteen months and it is the right time for a historic club such as Barnsley FC to have a women’s team. We will provide the team with the resources it needs to grow, and we are confident this investment will not only help the team but women’s football in the borough.

“We’d like to express our gratitude towards all the tireless volunteers who have helped the Barnsley Ladies team play football on their journey so far. Their foundation and energy has been an integral part to Barnsley FC making this decision. We’re extremely fortunate to be working with such a well-run organisation and so excited to continue the great work that’s been established with the junior teams as we want to continue to find the best local talent in the area.

UK ticket and hospitality software company Sponsorworks has partnered with Xero.

Accounting software business Xero will use the Sponsorworks platform to manage its ticket and hospitality allocations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in New Zealand and Australia.

Alex Cowell, Chief Executive Officer at Sponsorworks, said, “As big fans of Xero for many years, we’re thrilled to be providing a solution for managing their ticket and hospitality allocations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023”.

Premier League football club Aston Villa has appointed Chris Heck as its new President of Business Operations.

Chris Heck brings over 30 years of sports industry experience to Villa, including his most recent role as President of the National Basketball Association franchise the Philadelphia 76ers. Prior to his time with the 76ers, he held leadership roles at Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls and the National Basketball Association.

Nassef Sawiris, Chairman of Aston Villa, said, “We are excited to have Chris joining us as President of Business Operations. Consistent with our philosophy on the pitch, we have brought in world class talent off the pitch to help us continue our growth. Chris’ arrival will further establish Villa as a global leader in sport and enhance the fan experience.”

Chris Heck, the new President of Business Operations, added, “Villa’s storied history and impressive fanbase is something I’ve always admired from my sports career in the US. I look forward to becoming a part of this community and furthering the great legacy of this team and its fans.”