USA Rugby has announced a sponsorship agreement with Heathrow Express, the train service connecting Heathrow airport to London’s city centre, on the back of its national team’s qualification for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
Under the terms of the deal, the Heathrow Express logos will appear on the back of the USA team’s playing shirts and shorts.
USA beat Uruguay 32-13 in Atlanta on Saturday in the return leg of their RWC qualifier, having drawn the first leg 27-27 in Montevideo, and it joins South Africa, Samoa, Scotland and an Asian qualifier in Pool B of the competition.
Nigel Melville, chief executive of USA Rugby, said: “Rugby is one of the fastest-growing team sports in the US, with around one million Americans currently involved. Qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup will see US interest in rugby boom like never before.
“Bringing a UK-based partner like Heathrow Express on board will help support the development of our national teams and the growth of rugby in the US, and support our 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign as well as the development of the Eagles as a global sporting brand.”