Rugby Union

Telecommunications company O2 is focusing its entire UK sponsorship efforts on its relationship with England Rugby and its Priority Sports programme.

QBE, the Australian Securities Exchange-listed insurance underwriter, is sponsoring the QBE Autumn Internationals as part of a deal with the Rugby Football Union, which ends in August 2016.

Scottish Rugby has announced a partnership with drinks brand Lucozade Sport that will run until 2016.

The South African Rugby Union has signed a two-year associate sponsorship contract with the national subsidiary of Korean electronics giant Samsung.

The Sharks have announced an apparel partnership with BLK which will see the sportswear brand produce kits for the South African Super Rugby franchise from January 2014 to December 2018.

Gatorade, the PepsiCo-owned sport drink brand, has seen exposure at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup surpass its own expectations, with UK viewing figures for tournament games outranking its own interests in the Premier League.

Hans Erik Tuijt, global manager, Heineken Activation, has told Sports Sponsorship Insider of his hope that European clubs and rugby unions will come to a consensus on the future of the Heineken Cup that will prevent an Anglo-French breakaway competition.

English rugby union’s governing body the Rugby Football Union has extended its partnership with rugby equipment manufacturer Gilbert by a further seven years.

Qantas has signed a two-year extension to its sponsorship of New Zealand Super Rugby team the Crusaders.

English Premiership rugby union club Worcester Warriors has signed a sponsorship deal with electronic cigarettes manufacturer E-Lites.

DHL has been announced as the official logistics partner of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, which will be hosted by England.

The Australian Capital Territory government has secured the first naming sponsor for Stadium Canberra, with GIO Insurance agreeing an initial four-year deal for the rights.

Global battery brand Duracell has announced a partnership with New Zealand Rugby to sponsor reigning world champion the All Blacks.

Australian Super 14 rugby union team Melbourne Rebels has secured a two-year sponsorship deal with the national arm of automotive giant BMW.

Ireland’s defending Pro12 rugby union champion Leinster has announced a three-year extension of its sponsorship agreement with CityJet.

The Welsh Rugby Union and banking group NatWest have agreed a four-year extension of their NatWest RugbyForce grassroots initiative.

Viagogo has announced a three-year partnership with Scottish Rugby that makes the online ticket exchange the title sponsor for Scotland’s home autumn internationals.

Australian Super Rugby team Western Force has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Perth-based sub-sea services provider Fugro-TSM for the 2014 season.