THE UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA (UC) will be the Principal Partner for the Brumbies Super Rugby club for the 2012 season in a one-year deal worth between Aus$0.5m and Aus$1m.
The agreement follows the withdrawal before Christmas of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from a deal to sponsor the Brumbies for more than Aus$1m per season over four years.
UC Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker said it made economic sense for Canberra’s university to partner with the capital’s elite rugby union side which will be known as the University of Canberra Brumbies for the 2012 season.
''In terms of the university's profile, extra students and opportunities, research grants and other commercial opportunities, we think this will repay us a very significant return on our investment, “ he said.
''We've grown 40 per cent in the past four years. This sponsorship isn't about taking anything away from anyone, it's about growing.''
Describing the partnership as one that is “unique” in Australian sport, Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said: “Our partnership with UC will not only provide great benefit to the Brumbies and the University, this is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage the 13,000 students that are currently enrolled and the 60,000 alumni.”
Other tertiary education institutions with sporting links in Australia include the University of Western Sydney, which is a Principal Partner of the North East Australian Football League's Greater Western Sydney Giants (known as the UWS GIANTS for the 2012 season) and the University of South Australia, which has title sponsored the TeamUniSA-Australia road cycling team since 2001 in the Santos Tour Down Under, now part of the UCI Pro Tour.