Papua New Guinea-based beer producer SP Brewery has agreed a deal to sponsor the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, which its home country will host alongside Australia and New Zealand.
SP Brewery will serve as an official platinum partner of the event in Papua New Guinea.
SP Brewery will benefit from in-stadium brand exposure throughout the event, while the company will also produce a commemorative ‘SP Lager’ beer can, which will be available across Papua New Guinea in the lead-up to the tournament.
SP Brewery has an existing rugby league presence in Papua New Guinea and serves as the naming-rights sponsor of the SP PNG Hunters team, which competes in the Queensland Cup competition.
Stan Joyce, managing director at SP Brewery, said: “Rugby league is still by far the most popular sport played and watched across this country and we are happy to continue our partnership with rugby league, in particular the Rugby League World Cup, to promote this great game to the masses under our flagship brand SP Lager."
The Rugby League World Cup runs from October 27 to December 2. Papua New Guinea will play each of its three pool-stage games in the country’s capital, Port Moresby. The team kicks off its campaign against Wales on October 28 before facing off against Ireland on November 5 and the US on November 12.