It has been confirmed that the logo of long-time Ospreys commercial partners RWE npower renewables will remain on the front of the iconic black jersey for the 2013/14 season.
It has been confirmed that the logo of long-time Ospreys commercialpartners RWE npower renewables will remain on the front of the iconic black jersey for the 2013/14 season.
It takes the partnership into a record ninth year - the longest front of shirt sponsorship in Welsh regional rugby.
The partnership compliments both companies' joint approach to supporting the Region's communities, with RWE channeling even more of its sponsorship into initiatives like the Ospreys Schools Programme.
The acclaimed Ospreys Schools Programme, was launched by Leighton Andrews AM, Minister for Education and Skills in September 2012 with RWE as one of the key partners behind this innovative scheme. The initiative is the first of its kind in UK professional rugby and is on target to meet its aim of reaching 3,000 primary school pupils per academic year.
So far, more than 70 primary schools from across Ospreylia have already gone through the programme and more than 2,600 Year Five and Six pupils had undertaken the specially created sessions that satisfies National Curriculum objectives by the end of the spring term.
Under the terms of the new sponsorship agreement, RWE will focus more than ever on the various arms of the Ospreys community programme. RWE already works closely with the Ospreys and kit supplier Kooga on the 'Kits for Clubs' initiative, which has already seen rugby clubs and schools save more than £100,000 on rugby kit, money that can then be reinvested where it is needed most at grassroots level.
The Ospreys are also working more closely than ever with the community rugby clubs across the region, with over two thirds of the 77 clubs in Ospreylia signing up to work with community development staff to grow the game through the Ospreys Clubs Initiative.
In addition, community development staff have run 24 primary schools festivals to date this season with more than 2,000 young pupils benefiting, and visited another 36 secondary schools to encourage participation in the game, all activities that RWE will be supporting at an increased level next season.
Julia Lynch Williams, Managing Director of RWE npower renewables said:
"We're delighted to be notching up a ninth fantastic year sponsoring Ospreys and to be driving even more investment into community initiatives across the region.
"We're already a huge investor into Wales and, looking towards next season, expect to be working even more closely with Swansea's communities, through our wind farms and Ospreys initiatives."
Andrew Hore, Chief Operations Officer at the Ospreys, commented:
"We are extremely grateful to RWE npower renewables for their ongoing support of the region. Our partnership, which is one of the longest running in regional rugby dating back to 2005, continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted that once again they will feature on the front of our jersey in 2013/14.
"RWE and the Ospreys share very similar philosophies when it comes to the importance of supporting the local communities of Ospreylia and investing in areas where we can really make a difference.
"Increased investment into community programmes from both the Ospreys and RWE will allow us to continue building on and growing our activities throughout the region, inspiring even more young people."