npower renewables, headline sponsors of the Ospreys, have strengthened their commitment to rugby in the region after agreeing a deal to sponsor the eagerly anticipated clash between the Ospreys and the touring Australian national side.
The two teams will meet at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday 1st November in a match that will now be billed ‘the npower renewables Challenge – Ospreys v Australia’. The match will provide the Ospreys with the opportunity to secure their first silverware of the season, with the npower renewables Challenge Cup to be awarded to the winners.
The historic clash will be the first occasion that a Welsh regional team has faced a touring international side, and the Challenge looks set to be played out in front of a capacity crowd of 20,500, the first ever sell out at the £27 million stadium.
Ospreys Managing Director Roger Blyth hailed the sponsorship announcement as evidence of npower renewables continued support of the Ospreys:
“We are delighted that npower renewables has agreed to sponsor this prestigious match, adding to the already high profile of the biggest fixture in Ospreys history. Since npower renewables came on board as headline sponsors in summer 2005 both parties have enjoyed an extremely productive working relationship that continues to go from strength to strength.
“The combination of Wales’ leading region on and off the field and the leading renewable energy developer/operator in Wales is a winning one. The continued financial support that the region receives from npower renewables goes a long way towards helping us achieve our ultimate aim, which is to establish ourselves as one of the leading sides in European rugby.”
Dr Mark Legerton, npower renewables’s Development Manager for Wales said:
“It’s great that we are able to sponsor such a prestigious game – the best regional team in Wales taking on a respected international team. npower renewables is serious about our commitment to the Ospreys and to the Ospreys region, and we are sure that this sell-out match will show the world that the Ospreys and the Ospreys region are right up there with the best.”
The match against former Swansea coach John Connolly’s side will kick off the Wallabies tour of the Celtic Nations and will be the first time that the Aussies have visited the Ospreys region in 14 years when the then World Champions were involved in two classic encounters against Swansea and Neath. The All-Whites recorded a famous 21-6 victory on 4th November 1992 with tries from Garin Jenkins and Scott Gibbs, before the tourists overcame a fierce challenge at the Gnoll to claim a 16-8 success a week later.