O2 announces English Rugby backing till 2012
Mobile phone network operator O2 has announced that it has signed a new deal with the England Rugby Club to sponsor them until 2012.
O2 have sponsored the England Rugby team since 1995 and the new deal, worth around £4 million will see O2 keep their logo on England Rugby shirts for all their internationals and the next Rugby World Cup (2011) in New Zealand.
O2 will continue to have substantial advertising rights for the England Rugby Ground at Twickenham, and will have exclusive hospitality privileges for its clients and various competition winners. As well as offering O2 customers exclusive coverage of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premier Rugby (PRL) games, they will also remain the sole provider of telecommunications to the RFU and its players.
An O2 statement added that they were happy to sign the extension and that they would continue to support and promote the sport.