Ospreys take flight with record RWE extension

Welsh rugby union club Ospreys have agreed a one-year extension to their commercial partnership with RWE npower renewables, in a move that will take the shirt sponsorship deal into a record ninth consecutive year.

The continuation of the partnership, which began in 2005, will secure energy company RWE’s place on the front of players’ jerseys for the 2013-14 season – setting a new record for the longest front of shirt sponsorship deal in Welsh regional rugby.

Under the terms of the deal, the two parties will continue to work together on supporting the region’s communities through schemes such as the Ospreys Schools Programme, an educational scheme that reaches 3,000 primary school pupils every year.

In addition, RWE will also focus more on various arms of the Ospreys community programme, working alongside the club and kit supplier Kooga on a range of different schemes.

Julia Lynch Williams, managing director of RWE npower renewables said: “We're already a huge investor into Wales and, looking towards next season, expect to be working even more closely with Swansea's communities, through our wind farms and Ospreys initiatives.”

Andrew Hore, chief operations officer at the Ospreys, added: “Increased investment into community programmes from both the Ospreys and RWE will allow us to continue building on and growing our activities throughout the region, inspiring even more young people.”