The long-standing sponsorship deal between Qantas and the Australian Rugby Union teams will continue for another four years after the airline signed a contract extension today.
The release:
The Australian Rugby Union and Qantas today announced that the national carrier would build on its 25-year partnership with Rugby after re-signing as naming rights partner of the Qantas Wallabies and Qantas Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams until the end of 2019.
Qantas began its association with Australian Rugby in 1990 as its official airline before taking over as naming rights partner of the Qantas Wallabies in 2004.
Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver made the announcement in front of over 700 guests at the Qantas Wallabies Farewell Lunch at the Westin Sydney today ahead of the team’s departure for a history-making Test match in the USA.
“The name Qantas Wallabies is a merger of two truly iconic Australian brands and reflects a relationship that we are both proud of and privileged to be part of, and long may it continue,” said Pulver.
“Our 25-year partnership with Qantas is one of the longest-running and most successful partnerships in Australian sport and we are incredibly privileged to be able to continue our association for at least a further four years.
“I want to once again thank Qantas for their strong and continued support of Australian Rugby.”
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the a national carrier was pleased to continue its long standing relationship with the ARU as naming rights sponsor of the Qantas Wallabies.
“We look forward to supporting the team and flying them to their competitions around Australia and overseas,” said Mr Joyce.
As well as continuing as naming rights partner of the Qantas Wallabies, Qantas has also extended its naming rights partnership of the Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams for four years.
Qantas was announced as the inaugural naming rights partner of the Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams in 2012.
Under the new agreement Qantas remains the official airline of the ARU, official airline of the Qantas Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams, and official partner of the ARU Indigenous Program.
From 2016 Qantas will also become an official partner of the Sydney Sevens, with the inaugural event to be held at the Sydney Football Stadium on the weekend of February 6-7, 2016.
Today’s announcement comes just two days before the Qantas Wallabies depart for their first Test match on US soil in almost 40 years, where they will meet the USA Eagles at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 5.
From there the team will depart for England on the quest to become world champions when Rugby’s showpiece event kicks off on September 18.
Source: Australian Rugby Union press release
