The Ospreys today revealed details of an incredible £700,000 shirt sponsorship package - believed to be the highest in British and Irish club and regional rugby - at the launch of their brand new 2008/09 jersey at the Liberty Stadium.
The Ospreys today revealed details of an incredible £700,000 shirt sponsorship package - believed to be the highest in British and Irish club and regional rugby - at the launch of their brand new 2008/09 jersey at the Liberty Stadium.
The EDF Energy Cup winners will once again have the logo of headline sponsors npower renewables emblazoned across the chest of the new-look Kooga manufactured shirt, after the UK's leading green energy developer and operator reaffirmed its commitment to the region for a fourth season, agreeing a new one year deal valued at £180,000, the largest individual sponsorship in Welsh rugby.
Existing secondary sponsors Persimmon Homes, Worthingtons, John West Foods, Cuddy Group, Trade Centre Wales, Trade Depot, Solo Cleaning and Taylors Regional Foods have also agreed to extend their relationship with the Ospreys, whilst the region has secured new sponsorship deals with Fujitsu, 4U Recruitment and Land Rover.
Ospreys Managing Director Roger Blyth said:
"It gives us an enormous sense of satisfaction to be able to confirm such a lucrative, and impressive sponsorship package for the new season. What is particularly pleasing for us is the mix of national and local companies who will work in partnership with us over the next twelve months. It is clear to see from the well known national and worldwide brands whose logos will appear on the strip next season that the Ospreys brand itself is continuing to grow and is an attractive business proposition, whilst the presence of so many local companies shows that we haven't forgotten our roots and will continue to work with the local community as we grow.
The coming season is an exciting one for everybody involved with the Ospreys, coaches, players, management and sponsors alike as we look to build on our success in winning the EDF Energy Cup at Twickenham in April and secure our status as one of European rugby's leading outfits. The support of the businesses that are backing us financially through this sponsorship will certainly go a long way towards helping us achieve our aims."
Paul Cowling Managing Director of npower renewables said:
"As npower renewables enters its fourth year as primary sponsors of the Ospreys we look
forward to building on the broad range of community initiatives that already exist due our sponsorship. Our association with the Ospreys represents our ongoing commitment to communities in South Wales, and countless local groups and organisations have already benefited as a direct result of our sponsorship. We are committed to working in partnership with the Ospreys to ensure that these groups continue to benefit during the forthcoming season. We wish the Ospreys every success in the season ahead."
Ospreys Managing Director Mike Cuddy added:
"We are delighted that npower renewables have agreed to extend their sponsorship of the Ospreys into a fourth season. Our relationship with them has grown year-on-year since they first sponsored the Ospreys in 2005, and has had an impact on rugby right across Ospreylia thanks to their many community initiatives, and we are looking forward to working closely with them for many years to come.
Likewise, we are grateful to all the businesses who have agreed to continue their sponsorship from last season and are delighted to welcome on board Fujitsu, 4U Recruitment and Land Rover, who we hope will enjoy a long and successful partnership with the Ospreys."
As with previous seasons, the Ospreys home shirt is predominantly black with white trim, whilst the away strip sees the colouring reversed. The most significant change this season will be the inclusion of a traditional Celtic Knot theme, in an ox-blood red colour, to reflect the Welsh heritage of the region. The new jersey will be the first to incorporate a brand new technology called Liquid Pro, a revolutionary new material which will remove the need for players to wear compression garments underneath their shirts and will help to increase blood flow to the muscle groups, reducing lactic acid damage. Last season's jersey was once again amongst the most popular in the UK and Ireland, selling more than 42,000, a figure that was beaten only by Magners League rivals Munster.
Bill Newton, Managing Director of Kooga, the country's leading rugby shirt manufacturer said that the Ospreys jersey continues to be something of a phenomenon:
"The popularity of the Ospreys shirt is incredible, it really is a sales phenomenon. Once again we set a new record for sales last season and there is no indication yet that demand for the jersey is set to level off. There are a number of reasons which can help to explain away the popularity of the Ospreys shirt; they are successful, having won more silverware last season, they boast some of the most recognisable players in the game amongst their squad, and importantly, everybody at the region shares our progressive outlook on kit design and are more than happy to work with us to produce eye catching and innovative jerseys, such as this season's, that are revolutionising the design, form and function of a rugby shirt."
Land Rover, Fujitsu and 4U Recruitment are the latest businesses to sponsor the Ospreys.
Alun Wright, Regional Marketing Manager, Land Rover, said:
"Since the launch of the first ever 4x4 in 1948, Land Rover has stood for adventure and excellence - qualities that our company continues to reflect, and qualities that we look for in our partners. The Ospreys share these values of adventure and excellence both on and off the field so we are delighted to add them to the list of carefully chosen organisations that we work with."
Paul Evans, Finance Director, 4U Recruitment said:
"By becoming one of the Ospreys most recent shirt sponsors we are both raising our profile and being associated with one of Europe's premier clubs. All here at 4U Recruitment would like to wish the Ospreys all the best for the coming season and looking forward to being part of it all."
Steven Cox, Account Director, Fujitsu Services, said:
"Fujitsu Services is delighted to be sponsoring the Ospreys rugby club, perhaps the best-known face of the Swansea area. Fujitsu will be supporting the Ospreys through the year ahead, including involvement in the Ospreys Community Partners programme. Rugby is a game that encapsulates all that is great about Wales, and Fujitsuis proud to be Official Sponsors of a team whose attitudes and approach are closely aligned with our own: in terms of strength, commitment, working together to achieve goals, and determination to succeed - even when facing the toughest challenges.
On a local level we are keen to support the community within which we operate, which is why Fujitsuis delighted to be affiliated with the national sport of Wales.Through our sponsorship Fujitsu is looking forward to increasing its local awareness so as to attract the highest calibre of skilled staff to our teams in the Swansea and surrounding areas."
There will be two versions of the jersey available to purchase, a 'technical' version, which is an exact replica of the shirt worn by players on a matchday incorporating the Liquid Pro technology, and a 'supporters' version, which is a more relaxed fit for comfort. The 'supporters' version will be on sale at the Liberty Stadium Superstore and online at http://www.ospreysrugby.com/ from mid-day on Monday August 11th, with the 'technical' version due instore in September.