Sportpesa Adds Guinness Pro14 To Sport Portfolio
PRO14 Rugby has agreed a new deal with SportPesa to become the official gaming partner of the Championship’s knock-out stages, completing the line-up of Guinness PRO14 Final Series sponsors.
The first-ever Guinness PRO14 Final takes place in Dublin on 26th May and throughout all games in the Final Series SportPesa will now be a visible part of the Championship.
In the first season for the Guinness PRO14 since expansion into South Africa, the competition has experienced increased viewership and attendances while growth in social media engagement and video views have more than doubled.
In addition, record broadcast deals have been signed with Premier Sport and eir sport ahead of the 2018/19 season.
On the field the Guinness PRO14 is now the home of European champions Leinster Rugby and Cardiff Blues, while shareholder unions Ireland, Wales and Scotland all finished in the top three of this season’s Six Nations.
Dermot Rigley, commercial & marketing director, PRO14 Rugby, said: “SportPesa could not have chosen a better time to get involved: “The Championship is riding an incredible wave of positivity at the moment where rugby fans and talking about us and top-tier brands within the marketplace are eager to speak to us.
“SportPesa are a fresh, innovative company whose mission and core values ensure they work hard to give back to the local communities they are involved with and that’s in keeping with our own ideals. SportPesa are already involved in rugby with their support of the Kenyan 7s teams while they have high-profile partnerships with teams in the Premier League, Serie A as well as La Liga.
“We’re really pleased to have SportPesa on board as we look forward to a weekend of cracking Guinness PRO14 Semi-Finals, not to mention the drama that will unfold in our Champions Cup Play-Off game.”
Shaun Simmonds, UK head of marketing at SportPesa, added: “Everyone at SportPesa is incredibly excited about our partnership with PRO14 Rugby. Whilst we have a strong heritage in the sport, having supported local rugby in East Africa and sponsored the Kenya rugby sevens team, this partnership underlines the company’s diversification into Europe and South Africa.
“To be sitting at the top table of the sport alongside some of the most powerful brands on the planet is testament to the great work my colleagues have done in recent times; we’re looking forward to accelerating that growth further thanks to this partnership.”
SportPesa has previously invested in the development of the local sports leagues and tournaments in Kenya and Tanzania, and in 2016 began to expand its portfolio globally, signing deals with the likes of Arsenal, Southampton and Everton.
