Rugby Blindside Newsletter - Autumn 2018 Issue

AUTUMN 2018 / ISSUE 04

IN THIS ISSUE Old Elthamian's Hinckley Rugby Club Macclesfield RUFC Long Eaton RFC And much more...

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Contents Ashford RFC & Ashford Ladies announce sponsors ....................................................................02 Old Elthamian's and St. Mary's partnership ....................................................................03 Stourbridge RFC and Canterbury partnership ....................................................................05 Sutton & Epsom secure 2nd year sponsorship ....................................................................05 Kettering RFC announce two new sponsors ....................................................................06 Huddersfield RUFC renew Ravenhall sponsorship ....................................................................06 Boston Rugby Club announce new sponsorship ....................................................................07 Camp Hill Rugby Club have new kit supplier ....................................................................07 Macclesfield RUFC renew club facilities ....................................................................08 Hinkley Rugby Club announce community initiative ....................................................................09 Henley RFC partner with Wasps Academy ....................................................................10 Bishop Stortford RFC install new floodlights ....................................................................11 Darlington Mowden Park partner with BLK ....................................................................12 Club Profile: Long Eaton RFC ....................................................................13 Long Eaton RFC restores vandalised pitch ....................................................................15 SNAP Sponsorship - Our Partners ....................................................................16 News from the professional game ....................................................................17 01

Ashford RFC & Ashford Ladies announce new sponsors for the upcoming season Ashford RFC are pleased to announce a new sponsorship deal with Unilever.

Unilever have signed up to be Ashford RFC’s Club Sponsor for the 2018-19 season. They will use the Persil brand and the strapline “Dirt is Good” to promote the sponsorship. The Persil brand and strapline will be worn on the club’s match shirts across the men’s, mini’s, youth’s and girl’s’ playing sections.

Image: Ashford RFC

Ashford Ladies are also proud to announce Webtex Limited as their new sponsor for the 2018/19 season.

Webtex Limited’s Tamlyn Wood, Head of Social and Content, said: "Webtex Limited is a digital marketing agency based in Ashford. Our mission is to help small businesses thrive and we help businesses succeed with marketing regardless of their budgets. We know the importance of supporting local clubs and

Image: Ashford RFC

community-based projects, which is why we took the decision to sponsor the Ashford Ladies Rugby Team. Our ethos is to think global and work local which shows in our work and collaborations and we are proud to be a part of this community. We wish the ladies team well for the season along with all the other teams."

Ladies Head Coach, Matt Parker, commented: “The sponsorship from Webtex Limited is very welcome, it allows us purchase new kit and equipment and means the team can focus on the season ahead. It is always great to see local companies supporting local teams, and I hope for a long partnership which will lead to success for all involved”.

Image: Ashford RFC

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Old Elthamians and St Mary's sign five-year partnership Old Elthamians and St Mary’s University have announced a partnership which aims to deliver educational and rugby union opportunities. The five-year agreement with the Twickenham-based university begins with immediate effect and will see both parties strive to give students development opportunities and Old Elthamians players access to higher education.

The partnership will work to identify and attract talented young rugby union players from across the country to the club’s Academy which will allow them to study at the University and also be part of the Men’s Rugby Performance Programme (MRPP). They will do this by delivering two open days and a trial day to outline the educational and MRPP opportunities available.

Old Elthamians will provide a high quality learning environment for St Mary’s Sports Rehabilitation, Strength & Conditioning and Performance Analysis students to perform placements and volunteer opportunities, where they will support the club and the MRPP. St Mary’s will offer comprehensive support to the club through a Sport Performance Officer, performance workshops and analysis,

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Image: Old Elthamians

use of the University’s world class sports facilities and access to the Student Rehabilitation Clinic. They will also consider identified players who were not selected for an Old Elthamians scholarship for St Mary’s Sport Scholarship Programme, with the University providing them with dedicated term-time accommodation and a dietary plan throughout their studies, something which the rugby club are sponsoring by fully underwriting the tuition and accommodation fees.

USA Sevens coach Mike Friday has been appointed Academy Director and the club will also provide two proven rugby coaches with experience of coaching high level players - former England, Gloucester and London Irish scrum-half Pete Richards and ex-Northampton and Wasps fly-half James Brooks - to be Head Coach and Assistant Coach of St Mary’s Men’s 1st team.

The club will deliver an agreed weekly training plan that takes into account players’ study commitments and will allow all of the club’s scholars to play for St Mary’s Men’s team in all BUCS League, Cup and Sevens fixtures.

The Academy will be backed by Elthamians’ main sponsor, Secure Trading, also principal sponsors of England Sevens, who are delighted to continue their long association with OEs rugby by supporting this educational sponsorship programme.

Academy Director at the club, Mike Friday, said: “I am really excited about this partnership and creating a different type of focused Academy which will allow us to develop players holistically.

“I am a firm believer that if we seek to develop the person then we will develop a better rugby player. Having been around the USA collegiate system, I’m convinced there is a place for that approach in the sporting development system in rugby here in the UK. It requires a long term approach as we fully integrate between club and university, recognising and catering for both needs and providing the total learning experience.

“Too often players, while chasing their rugby dream, have not focused on developing themselves which is to their detriment in the long term and also can leave them without ‘plan B’ should

their career in rugby not work out or once rugby is over.”

Friday continued: “What we are seeking to put together here allows us to provide all of those experiences and development needs to give players the opportunity to become the best rugby player they can be and ‘fit for purpose’ to pursue other interests in life whilst playing or after playing.”

Director of Sport at St Mary’s Andrew Reid-Smith, said, “It’s exciting to be working with Old Elthamians to identify talented players and provide a scholarship programme that will support and develop outstanding individuals through education and rugby. We have everything in place to provide an excellent performance programme, facilities that the All Blacks used as part of their World Cup preparation, support services and a professional coaching setup.

“I’d like to thank Old Elthamians and St Mary’s staff for their help in realising a unique and innovative Rugby Academy that will benefit players in the classroom and on the playing field.”

OEs Director of Rugby Gavin Lach said: “Kent’s never had a professional team and the long-term aim is to move higher up the rugby ladder. We’re hoping to change the rugby landscape and our academy is a big part of that.”

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Stourbridge RFC Sutton & Epson secure partner with Canterbury 2nd year of sponsorship Following on from a fantastic first year as headline sponsor of Sutton & Epsom Rugby Club (S&ERFC), Monica Bradley Associates has announced that they will be the club’s headline sponsor for a second year running.

Image: Stourbride RFC

Leading sports brand Canterbury has been announced as the new kit supplier to Stourbridge RFC, in a deal that unites the club until 2020. The Club has been instrumental in developing a range from on-field kit to leisurewear, encompassing simplicity with Club heritage along with a few modern twists.

Speed One Sports once again have been asked to manage the process from start to finish, bridging the gap between brand and Club. Speed One Sports has over 17 years of specialist teamwear experience from elite level to grassroots and boasts association with British & Irish Lions Tours, England Rugby and many different premiership clubs.

“Linking the right brand with the right Club is what it’s all about. Stourbridge Rugby is a big club with lots of ambition, so a great match for all concerned…” said Speed One Sports Director, Tony Di Ponio.

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Founder Monica Bradley, who is also an avid rugby supporter, said: “Our work with the club so far has reinforced my view that it provides both its members and the wider community a truly valuable facility with a fantastic sporting history.”

Monica continued: “As a business based in Cheam Village which has traded in Surrey for over twenty years, we also understand and share many of the club’s values, so it’s with great pleasure and pride that we’re involved again this year, both from a sponsorship perspective and also with members of our staff playing for some of the club’s senior teams.”

S&ERFC President, Robert Knight, also said of the partnership: “We’re delighted that Monica Bradley Associates are working with us again as headline sponsors this year. The club is truly going from strength to strength and we’re all excited about the new season, so having Monica and her team on the journey with us again really is wonderful news.”

Kettering RFC welcomes two new sponsors

Huddersfield RUFC renew Ravenhall sponsorshipÂ

Universal Engineering (Midlands) Ltd and Premier Roofing Systems Ltd become the clubs new Main Sponsors for the next three years.

After 4 years Higham Roofing have stepped down as the clubs main sponsor, and the club has taken this opportunity to thank them for all their support both financially and practically over that time.

The club quickly set about replacing them and two companies will now share the Main Sponsorship of the club for at least the next three year - Universal Engineering (Midlands) Ltd and Premier Roofing Systems Ltd both with their head offices based in Corby bring both financial and practical support to the club at a time when Kettering Rugby Club is about to embark on another journey both on and off the pitch.

Kettering Rugby Club welcomes the two companies on board and hopes that they both enjoy their three years and guarrantee them it will be an interesting journey.

Image: Huddersfield RUFC

Huddersfield RUFC have announced that Ravenhall Risk Solutions Ltd have renewed their sponsorship of the club for the coming season.

Ravenhall will continue as main stand sponsors and the club feels privileged to have the support of Ravenhall on the field and off the field. Ravenhall Risk Solutions are chartered Independent Insurance Brokers headquartered in West Yorkshire Ravenhall specialise in providing independent advice on all types of insurance for individuals and businesses and take care of the Club's insurance needs.

The Club is delighted to have Ravenhall Risk Solutions on board for the new 2018/19 season. They would like to thank Neil, James and everyone at Ravenhall for their continued support.

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Boston Rugby Club announce new sponsor

Camp Hill RFC has a new kit supplier

Boston Rugby Club has announced a new sponsor for the upcoming season, local insurance and risk management specialists, Alan Boswell Insurance Advisers. The Boston based company have signed a oneyear sponsorship agreement with the rugby club as it looks to strengthen its relationships in the local community.

The agreement will see new signage at the club’s Princess Royal Sports Arena in Wyberton Fen, while the club benefits from additional revenue towards running costs.

Sponsorship Manager at the club, Brian Stephens, said: “We’re thrilled to add Alan Boswell Group to our list of sponsors.

Boston Rugby Club is a non-profit organisation, so this will help to cover the cost of entry to tournaments and equipment. We look forward to a long and successful partnership with Alan Boswell Group.”

Account Executive, Danny Smith, said: “The group have consistently supported local sports clubs and teams and so it seemed only right that we started to support Boston Rugby Club now that we’re based in the town. We hope this will continue and that both parties can benefit from the agreement”

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Image: Camp Hill RFC

Camp Hill RFC has appointed Akuma as its new Kit supplier. Established in 2008, Akuma Sports are a UK family owned, industry leading teamwear supplier.

Akuma Sports was created by the three Aldersley brothers who share a love for sport and a passion to deliver a simple solution to purchasing high-quality sportswear.

New playing Kit for The Senior Club, Touch Rugby Sections and Mini's & Juniors will be delivered in readiness for the new Season. Akuma are currently in the process of building a new on-line shop where 'stash' can be ordered and delivered to you direct. As soon as the shop is available, the club will its members know.

The Club has stated it owes a very big thank you to Russ Beale-Burchell and all those who've been involved in the arrangements.

Macclesfield RUFC renew club facilities with team of volunteers his van of maintenance equipment, mig welder and pressure washer which proved invaluable. Although the project still needs a few final finishing touches, the Club and its force of community volunteers still found time to also paint two of the changing rooms, tidy up the weights room and finally enjoy the reward of a beer and BBQ in the late afternoon sunshine.

Image: Macclesfield RUFC

Macclesfield Rugby Union Football Club (MRUFC) and community volunteers joined forces to renovate the Club foyer and changing rooms at Priory Park as part of this year’s NatWest Rugby Force initiative.

11 Club representatives and a number of volunteers from the local community joined forces to renovate the Club foyer area which was looking a little shabby.

Long standing Club member, Andy McLean took a day out of his schedule during the week to fit down lighters in the entrance and a suspended ceiling to hide some unsightly pipework.

Alderley Park also volunteered the services of ex-rugby player, James Burden, to help with the project. James brought

Speaking about the successful community event, Macclesfield RUFC Business Director, Jonathan Marsh, said: “On Saturday 23rd June, members, community volunteers and players from Macclesfield Rugby Club gathered to carry out some much needed maintenance projects as part of the RFU’s ‘Rugby Force’ weekend. The 11 strong team of volunteers started work painting the club entrance foyer before moving on to the changing rooms and weights room.”

“Everyone worked hard and we were able to achieve far more than we’d hoped to.

Once the work was completed all the team sat down together to enjoy a few, well deserved beers in the sun with a barbecue.

The Club would like to thank the volunteers for their sterling work, and hopes that we’ll be able to welcome them back at the newly-refurbished community hub in the future,” he added.

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Hinckley Rugby Club announce a new community initiative Hinckley Rugby Club are delighted to announce a new Community Rugby initiative which will deliver a wide range of sports projects and supply quality sports coaching to schools and organisations in the local area and beyond.

Hinckley Rugby Club will work in partnership with Sports In Schools who specialise in the formation and operating of community departments for sporting clubs and businesses.

With over 200 schools and other education establishments within a 10-mile radius of the club, there is a fantastic opportunity to build stronger links within the community, deliver high quality sports provision and provide sustained support to the next generation of rugby players who could one day represent the club as a player, supporter or volunteer.

The partnership will also provide the main body of the club with a sustainable income to support further projects.

Image: Hinckley Rugby Club

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The department - which will be headed by a newly appointed Head of Community has been established following close work between the Hinckley Rugby Club and Sports

Image: Hinckley Rugby Club

In Schools Ltd. Speaking about the appointment, Hinckley Rugby Club's Chairman John Tilley said: “We have always looked at how we could best serve the community within which we sit, and we feel now is the right time to form a community department within the club.

We have spoken with Matt Price and his team at Sports In Schools at some length about how we can engage with the community more and we are all in full agreement that a community department is the way forward.” Hinckley Rugby Club's Director of Rugby, George Chuter, said: “I am thrilled that we are taken this important step in building our links with the local community.”

Matt Price, Managing Director of Sports In Schools Ltd added: “Sports In Schools are extremely excited to be working with Hinckley Rugby Club on community initiatives. Hinckley Rugby Club is steeped in history and has some real genuine, great people striving to make it even better. We will be working hard to assist in this through the community department and we can’t wait to get started! I say it all the time, but it is true, a community department is now a major part of a rugby clubs operational activity and we are delighted to be a part of it at Hinckley Rugby Club.”

Henley RFC partner with Wasps Academy

Image: Henley RFC

Henley RFC has announced that the club have agreed a partnership with Wasps Academy which will see Dry Leas become their southern base for developing the Premiership stars of tomorrow. As part of the agreement, Wasps Academy have refurbished the old PT gym facility at Dry Leas which they will use on Monday

evenings, along with the Tiger Turf pitch.

The partnership will also see one Wasps A league match being played at Dry Leas on a Monday night during the 2018/19 season along with Wasps first XV squad players appearing at Henley RFC events as well.

The Wasps Community team will also deliver two Coachclass sessions at Dry Leas over the season.

Commenting on the new agreement, Henley RFC Chairman, Chris Nixon, said: "The two Clubs have shared a close relationship over the years and we’re naturally delighted that Wasps have decided to base their Southern Academy at Dry Leas. We offer fantastic state-of-theart facilities and we hope that this will be the start of a long and successful partnership for us both."

Jon Pendlebury, Wasps Academy Manager added: "This partnership is massively important for us in the Junior Academy at Wasps and a big step forward for me and the coaching group to support our next best 15-18 year olds, whilst also trying to cover across our regional area of Nuneaton down to Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire and here at Henley RFC in Oxfordshire.

Henley RFC has a proud history with Wasps dating back many years, with Wasps having loaned many players to the Hawks, but also hosting A League fixtures at Dry Leas and the area being home to many Wasps fans."

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Bishop's Stortford RFC have new floodlights installed at club Rugby Football Union to become a Legacy Centre and receive a grant of £30,000 to install the floodlights and provide a base for the continued growth in club rugby participation and membership throughout England.

England 2015 provided rugby union with the platform to grow participation across all areas of the game. As a legacy of the event the focus turns to maintaining that growth and retaining those new players.

Image: Bishop's Stortford RFC

Bishop's Stortford RFC have been able to install 200 lux floodlights on Pitch 1 which will make it easier to play mid-winter league games, when conditions as we know only too well, can be gloomy.

The majority of the £53,000 outlay has been provided by the RFU, a lady member and the Oval Club, to both of whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude.

Bishop's Stortford were chosen by the

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"The new facilities will improve the quality of the rugby experience for everyone using the site and provide more playing opportunities, especially for local people in the 14-24 age-group." said RFU Area Facilities Manager Jason Bowers. It will be particularly fitting now that BSRFC is playing in National 1, the 3rd tier rugby in England.

"This investment will also support the club's financial sustainability and will create a lasting rugby union legacy for rugby in the community. The 200 Lux floodlights will help the club raise its profile and encourage more players, volunteers and spectators to share the special values that distinguish the sport."

Club Chairman, Colin Tilley, said: "We are delighted that our project has won

approval following its original identification by Hertfordshire RFU.

provide on and off field playing and training kit to the club.

We will now have some of the best facilities in the area that are available to local people from Bishop’s Stortford and surrounding area. England 2015 inspired a new wave of people of all ages to become involved in rugby and this RFU investment will help our club to be even better equipped to welcome the newcomers."

The Club have agreed a three year partnership which will cover each of DMP’s 26 teams, ranging from the minis and juniors all the way through to the 1st XVs. The agreement will also allow DMP Community Partners including local schools and clubs to benefit from the BLK partnership.

"This investment by the RFU is excellent news." said Mark Prisk, MP for Hertford and Stortford. “The Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club has an enthusiastic group of hard-working volunteers and this funding will enable them to do even more for young people in the community in the future."

Darlington Mowden Park partner with BLK

Image: Darlington Mowden Park RFC

Darlington Mowden Park RFC have announced a new deal with BLK UK to

Nick Saint, Commercial & Partnerships Manager at Mowden Park said: “We are excited to be working with BLK over the coming years. They are a company with similar ambitions to ourselves and we feel it’s a great fit for the club as a whole.”

Nearly 10,000 teams globally now wear BLK, from national sides such as the New Zealand and Scotland Rugby league teams through to local grassroots teams. The company has ambitious plans to further expand across a range of sports.

Richard Upshall, Chairman of RU Active, the BLK licensee for UK, USA, Caribbean, GCC and Middle East, stated: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Darlington Mowden Park and supporting their remarkable journey. It’s amazing to see such great progress especially in in the North of England. This excellent signing comes at a time when several clubs in the North West have also chosen RU Active’s BLK brand and that makes me very happy indeed! #northernpowerhouse”

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Club Profile : Long Eaton Rugby Long Eaton Rugby Club is a pillar of the local community, bringing together people of all ages and walks of life.

50 years ago, in January 1968, Councillor Donal Byrne, aged 27, placed an article in the Long Eaton Advertiser recruiting players to join a new rugby team in the area. He said: “Ilkeston started from nothing. It only wants somebody to start it.” As enthusiastic local men began to step forward, the first training session took place with 13 players in attendance and Long Eaton Rugby was born.

Image: Long Eaton Rugby

community to succeed, and the team became a member of the Derbyshire RFU less than one year later.

The club’s first ever Chairman, Francis Turner, conveniently a council surveyor at the time, ensured the team had the driest pitch at Long Eaton’s West Park, a site which the club still call home today.

Image: LE RFC

Made up of mostly businessmen and school teachers, the team went on to play and win their first match against the British Celanese on 10th April 1968 with one converted try. The victory was spurred further by the fierce commitment and support from the local

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Through many highs and lows over the years, including the club nearly folding in 2008, two themes have remained unwavering; Long Eaton’s ‘can do’ attitude and inspiring community spirit. Veteran players, local families and enthusiastic new-comers have worked tirelessly to keep the club on its feet through the hard times.

The 50th anniversary year has seen Long Eaton Rugby’s most successful season yet; both the 1st and 2nd XV have been promoted and the club have won both the prestigious Derbyshire Cup and three counties cup. Two players, Dec Neary and Jacob Wright have also gained their national caps this year, as they represented England Under 20s in the tour of Georgia recently – another huge achievement for the club.

To celebrate this milestone, the club recently held a 50th anniversary dinner, which saw past LERFC captains, players and presidents who now live scattered around the world, come together with the club’s current membership. In attendance was Long Eaton’s first Club President, Len Jones, now aged 93.

Long Eaton now has two men’s teams, a colts and veterans side and caters for boys and girls aged five upwards. It’s newly refurbished club house caters for a wide variety of community social events, bringing local people together to enjoy comedy, live music, sport and family fun days.

Image: Team photo caption: LERFC 1st XV 1984/85 Top row left-right: Paul Gardner, Mick Parr, Pat Costello, Ian Mackintosh, Scott Hutchinson, Dean Talbot, Chris Brookes (now club Chairman) Bottom row left-right: Phil Milton, Kev Mumby, Andy Gibbs, Pete Pod, Huw Thomas, James Rodgers, Danette Beckford,

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Long Eaton Rugby reaches fundraising target to restore vandalised pitch friends, family, other sports clubs and organisations, such as Long Eaton Round Table, who gave £461 to the club. An anonymous donor, inspired by these contributions, has given the club a huge £2,000, helping it to achieve its target of £5,000 just two weeks after the appeal was launched.

Image: Long Eaton Rugby Club

Long Eaton Rugby Club has raised £5,000 to restore posts that were uprooted and destroyed by vandals, thanks to generous donations from kind-hearted members, businesses and local residents.

The club was devastated when posts on its junior pitch, located on West Park, were torn up and quickly launched a fundraising appeal to raise the £5,000 needed to replace them. Donations soon flooded in from across Long Eaton, to support a club which has long acted as a pillar of the local community.

Amongst the generosity was Jamie Goodman, a 13-year-old player at Long Eaton Rugby, who gave his entire savings of over £400 to the cause. His dad, Paul Goodman, a sponsor of the club, also matched his total.

Donations have since poured in from

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Club Chairman, Chris Brookes, said: “To have such a terrible and deliberate crime committed against our club was heartbreaking but we quickly picked ourselves up to get things back in order. I have been so humbled to see the incredible generosity of our members, their friends and families, local businesses and the Long Eaton community. It’s been overwhelming to see how readily people are willing to step up and support the club we love.

“We have now hit our target of £5,000 to re-install the groundworks, sockets and new posts, which is an amazing feeling.

We’re looking forward to getting things back to normal as soon as possible for the children that use our junior pitch.

“On behalf of the club I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and supported our appeal, this has been a testament to the community spirit here in Long Eaton.”special values that distinguish the sport."

SNAP: Building sponsorship for the new season!

SNAP are a sponsorship company who have developed a website that enables rugby clubs to secure and manage sponsorship online. The SNAP team has been working with multiple clubs throughout the off-season to guide them to ultimately secure sponsorship.

They have been working closely with counties such as Hampshire, working strategically with the county in order to secure sponsorship for the body and the clubs that play rugby in that area.

Don’t miss out on securing sponsorship, build a profile on SNAP’s website today! If you sign up to the paid for membership, the SNAP Team can begin a search in your local area to contact sponsors. SNAP currently have a team of sponsorship consultants who are working with our paying members and pushing sponsors towards the website to sponsor clubs.

In addition, SNAP have been working with members of their website to educate them on how to secure sponsorship more effectively through case study examples.

These allow clubs to replicate SNAP’s previously transacted deals over years of working with clubs of all levels across multiple geographies.

SNAP’s most recent success can be seen at Dyce RFC. Dyce RFC has increased their sponsorship revenue by over 350% moving in to the new season.

Our Partners

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From the professional game...

England Rugby and British Airways launch new partnership England Rugby and British Airways have announced a ground-breaking new partnership, which will see British Airways become the inaugural principal partner to Twickenham Stadium, as well as a principal partner and official airline partner to England Rugby.

“We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with British Airways and are extremely excited about working together.”

“Twickenham Stadium is the home of rugby and we’re so pleased to have an iconic British brand as our first ever principal partner of the stadium.

“We are proud to be working with British Airways, a brand that has such a strong heritage that is aligned with our core values.”

- RFU Chief Executive, Steve Brown

Edinburgh Rugby partners with Wood 17

Bristol Bears partner with TM Lewin Bristol Bears will be kitted out with after-match wear

by TM Lewin during the 2018/19 campaign. The gentleman’s dress shirt and tailoring retailer will become the club’s official formal wear supplier to players and key personnel for their return to English rugby’s top flight. T. M. Lewin will provide the club’s management and players with suits and shirts for post-match duties and player appearances.

Saracens renew partnership with Green King IPA Saracens have renewed their partnership with Greene King ahead of the 2018/19 season, welcoming Greene King IPA as the Official Beer of Saracens Rugby. The partnership, first established in 2013, has been extended for a further five years and means that fans visiting Allianz Park can enjoy a pint or two of the UK’s fastest selling cask beer whilst watching their team in action.

Scottish Rugby announces historic operating results for 2017/18 season Annual Report highlights: - Record turnover of £57.2million achieved (rise of £5.8m) + 11.3% on previous year - Represents 63% rise in income growth since 2011 - A surplus of £1.8m reported - Average debt down to £2.4m, a fall of £2.8m on previous year - Funds generated allow significant ongoing and increasing investment to be earmarked for grassroots clubs - Run of eight consecutive sell-out matches continued at BT Murrayfield - Scottish Rugby to continue Club Sustainability Fund for foreseeable future

Harlequins announce new partnership with Hunter Field "Hunter is a great partnership for the Club. This represents an authentic collaboration between two iconic brands.

“At Harlequins we are ambitious and innovative in everything we do. Like Hunter we have a great heritage but are continuously looking to progress. This will be a good partnership with a lot of exciting opportunities ahead for Harlequins and Hunter.”

- Harlequins’ Commercial Director, Alexandra Goldschmidt

Leicester Tigers partner with Burleighs Gin Castleford Tigers Community Stadium plans revealed 18

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