American insurance giant AIG has extended its high-profile sponsorship agreement with New Zealand Rugby, the governing body of rugby union in the country.
The renewal will run for six years, with AIG retaining its branding placement on the front of the All Blacks national team jersey. The two parties first linked up in 2012 and the extension confirms AIG as the governing body’s major global sponsor and official insurance partner.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but AIG will continue to receive exposure surrounding games and activities featuring the national team, the national sevens team, the Maori All Blacks, the Black Ferns women’s team, the Black Ferns sevens team and the New Zealand under-20 team.
Preliminary talks began about 12 months ago, with legal and commercial teams working on the deal “for months rather than weeks,” according to New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew.
“AIG has been a great supporter of our game since coming on board in 2012 and contributed to outstanding results off the field, helping profile our teams throughout the world and showcasing the story and teams of New Zealand rugby to millions of new fans from Chicago to China and further afield,” he said.
“This is a very positive step for rugby in New Zealand and ensures critical funding to run and strengthen rugby in New Zealand from the community game through to the high-performance level.”
Peter Hancock, AIG president and chief executive, added: “Our sponsorship will continue to serve as a valuable marketing tool and as an inspiration for excellence to AIG people.”
The initial agreement heralded the carriage of a permanent corporate logo on the front of the All Blacks jersey for the first time in its history.