Rugby Blindside Newsletter - March / April 2018 Issue

MARCH - APRIL 2018 / ISSUE 02

IN THIS ISSUE Chichester Rugby Club Hatfield QE RFC Long Eaton RFC Grassroots Rugby Media

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Editors' Comment Premiership Rugby has a new title sponsor and Bristol Rugby has been rebranded to the Bristol Bears. These are two of the major ‘off pitch’ news stories to come out in the professional game since the last Rugby Blindside newsletter.

Readers of the Rugby Blindside newsletter will agree that branding and sponsorship support is as important for grassroots clubs as it is for professional clubs. Yet with increasing TV revenue and increasing national and international coverage for professional clubs the gap between the professional and grassroots game is growing.

Where as Premiership Rugby examples, professional rugby is looking for new international sponsorship opportunities, grassroots clubs are still heavily reliant on support from their local community.

This issue shows the continued brilliant work carried out at clubs to source and retain sponsorship to support grassroots rugby.

- WP

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Contents Editors' Comment .......................................01 Covers sponsor Chichester Rugby Club .......................................02 Hatfield QE RFC partner with Porsche .......................................03 Long Eaton RFC renew six partners .......................................05 Spotlight on Grassroots Rugby Media .......................................06 Commercial news from the professional game .......................................07

Covers sponsor Chichester Rugby Club Covers Timber and Builders Merchants are delighted to have agreed to sponsor Chichester Rugby Club for another season.

The club, which has its home ground at Oaklands Park, runs four senior teams, and a full range of junior teams.

Covers’ sponsorship deal will include having the company’s logo appear on the club’s pavilion, website and match day programmes.

Ron Migliorini, from Chichester Rugby Club, said: “Our relationship with Covers stretches back many years and we are delighted that they will be continuing to back us this season and would like to thank them for their ongoing support. Their sponsorship is invaluable in

Image: Chichester Rugby Club

ensuring we can continue to maintain the club’s facilities and training for all our teams.”

Henry Green, Managing Director at Covers, added: “With our company’s head office based in Chichester, and our great love and affection for all things sport at Covers, it is an absolute pleasure to be supporting the club. We wish them the very best of luck for a successful season.”

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Hatfield QE RFC and Porsche Centre Hatfield announce new community partnership

Image: Hatfield QE RFC

Hatfield Queen Elizabeth Rugby Club and Porsche Centre Hatfield have launched a new community partnership with the aim of developing grassroots rugby in Hatfield and the local area.

The launch event was just the start for what both organisations hope will be a long-term partnership across a variety of community projects including joint promotions in local schools, the University, charity and community events, and 03

much more over the coming seasons.

HQE also launched a preview of next seasons 2018/19 kit, headline sponsored by Porsche Centre Hatfield, as part of the evenings celebrations. The new kit will be debuted in the final game of the season in the club's Cup Final against Luton.

The event held at the Porsche Centre Hatfield showroom on

Hatfield Business Park showcased the car manufacturers commitment to working with a local rugby club that share a vision of performance and success that aligns with theirs.

Mark Goody, the Centre Principle at Porsche Centre Hatfield, said: “Porsche is a sports-based company, we only build sports cars and we’ve won more races than any other manufacturer. That’s why we wanted to associate ourselves with a local sports team.”

“We’d been looking for a team to sponsor for a while, but none seemed to fit until we met with Hatfield Queen Elizabeth. And we’re looking forward to a long relationship that’s not just about our name on the shirts, we want to be part of the rugby community. And it’s extra fitting that the site of Porsche Centre Hatfield is built on what used to be one of the original team pitches!”

Chairman of Hatfield QE RFC, Toby Garrett, added: “It’s really important to us as a club that we work with businesses that are keen to help facilitate a growth in the sport of

rugby, whilst also supporting the community in projects that directly influence the local people of Hatfield.”

“We are therefore delighted to work with the team at Porsche Centre Hatfield on a number of exciting projects over the coming months, with this launch event just a taster of what is to come in the future.”

The partnership launch event caps off a weekend of celebrations for Hatfield rugby with the team winning the Herts Middlesex Merit League 3 on Saturday in the final match of the regular season away against Watford 12-48.

HQE look forward to the Cup Final being held at Saracens Amateurs ground in Bramley Road, Southgate.

The club are keen for the support of as many Hatfield supporters as possible to cheer them on as they look to finish the season on a high by securing the League and Cup double.

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Long Eaton RFC renew six partners

Long Eaton Rugby Club has announced that Children 1st , Omar Park Homes, Routen Chaplin, Rox Plumbing and Property Services, Roy Geddes Brick and Hedgehog Electrical Services are all continuing their partnerships into next season.

Finance Manager, Graham Hockley, said: "The continued success and development of the Club relies on the support of our Partners. It helps us plan forwards and the club to reach its aspirations. We are sincerely indebted to these businesses and their kind support."

Adrian Mason, Director of Children 1st, commented: "the Club is a invaluable part of the Community.

We are pleased to be partners and support the Club and excited about the future development and aspirations."

Has your club got news to share in the Rugby Blindside newsletter?

Contact us!

Sponsorship deals Partnership news

Facilities upgrades Community projects

rugbyblindside@gmail.com

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Grassroots Rugby Media Shawn Boatin, 25, from Cheshunt in Hertfordshire created the awardwinning platform "Grassroots Rugby Media" otherwise known as GRM. In 2011 at university in Hull, he quickly became engrossed by Rugby League.

Despite playing and following Rugby Union he fell in love with the beautifully brash culture of Rugby League which is one of the key entities he tries to showcase in the GRM videos.

Shawn's love for cameras and editing stems from travelling to different parts of the World.

Conscious of the lack of media coverage surrounding amateur sport, Shawn set to combine his love  of rugby with his passion for film making and founded Grassroots Rugby Media on the 28th April 2017.

Instead of filming a rugby game from a fixed position or gantry, Shawn likes to film around the entire pitch, capturing the emotions and finer details. Every game he films has a unique narrative and he aims to portray that in each video.

In the first year, GRM videos reached 750,000 people, showcasing more than 120 rugby games, gaining national and international attention which has led to us securing great commercial partners. The biggest success story of GRM is the fact that Shawn is able to provide a platform where players as young as 12 right up to open age are able to exhibit their talents.

Shawn runs the website and he does all the filming and editing but GRM is certainly more than just a oneman-team! John Mooney, a retired journalist, writes fantastic match reports for GRM which are well received by the rugby community.

These reports currently average 20,000 readers a month, which Shawn credits John’s hard work to.

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From the professional game...

Bristol Rugby to become the Bristol Bears “This is an exciting and major commitment to ensuring the future success of the club. In order to succeed in our mission to Inspire Our Community Through Rugby Success, we must make bold changes to ensure we are prepared for the demands of this highly competitive, dynamic environment. We have to be prepared to break the mould and be relentless in driving the progression of this rugby club. In a challenging market, in order to attract investment and new audiences, we must be brave in our vision."

- Club Owner, Stephen Lansdown

Leicester Tigers welcome Häfele as partner 07

Premiership Rugby announces partnership with Gallagher A multi-year strategic business and marketing partnership beginning with the 2018-19 season with Gallagher becoming the official title sponsor of Premiership Rugby.

Cardiff Blues announce Macron as new technical sponsor Cardiff Blues have confirmed Macron as their new technical sponsor ahead of the 2018-19 season. The Bologna-based sporting apparel company replace Canterbury, who have been Wales' Capital Region's kit supplier for more than 10 years.

Leicester Tigers and Breedon Group announce new partnership For all associated with the club, The Breedon Stand represents the strong history, heritage and success of this club. Throughout the stadium’s redevelopment in recent years, the traditions of the stand have remained – something the players and fans are keen to uphold... Breedon Group and Leicester Tigers share a lot of the same values" - Leicester Tigers Commercial Director, Andrea Pinchen

Premiership Rugby announces support of Restart Rugby Round 20 games across the weekend of 13th-15th April were dedicated to Restart Rugby – the charity which supports professional players suffering from serious injury, illness or hardship. “Since my accident, the support I have received from Restart Rugby has been incredible."

- Ed Jackson

Gloucester Rugby announce financial results for year ended 30 June 2017

Northampton Saints partner with Tompkins, Knights & Son 08

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