Shorts: Vertu Motors, Premier 15’s, Caytoo, URC

Vertu Motors has signed a multi-team deal to become the Official Car Retailer for Middlesbrough FC and Sunderland AFC. The deals incorporate matchday activation, digital opportunities, and player appearances throughout the partnership, while there will also be a focus for the brand on ensuring PR and marketing activations across the season. 

The addition of the two football clubs expands Vertu Motors’ partnerships in sport, which include deals with the Newcastle Eagles basketball team and naming rights for the Eagles’ Vertu Motors Arena in Gateshead, close to the brand’s headquarters.   

Premier 15s rugby is now available to watch live on the BBC for the first time, starting with this weekend’s win for league leaders Bristol Bears against Wasps. 

A selected fixture from the top tier of the women’s English rugby union domestic league will be shown each game weekend on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. Along with the GB Women’s Basketball, Women’s Super League, Women’s FA Cup, Women’s Hundred, Women’s Rugby Union Autumn Internationals, Women’s Rugby League and much more, broadcasting the Premier 15s strengthens the BBC’s continued commitment to women’s sport. 

Sponsorship intelligence company caytoo has announced a new partnership with Harlequins. Partnership Sales Manager Rob Cook said, “We were attracted by caytoo’s ability to think outside the box when it comes to unearthing relevant brands to approach about sponsorship particularly in terms of bringing brands to our attention that we normally wouldn’t be aware of. As part of this process, our partnership sales team also value and enjoy the robust conversations we have with caytoo’s analysts about identifying the most likely leads for the club.” 

Fixtures for the URC (United Rugby Championship) and upcoming European Rugby Champions Cup are in doubt with Irish province Munster Rugby and Welsh region Cardiff stranded in South Africa following positive Covid tests ahead of their proposed matches against the Bulls and Lions respectively. 

All URC matches due to take place in South Africa this and next weekend have been called off, with Champions Cup matches involving both teams also under threat, depending on how long they remain in South Africa and new isolation protocols.