Mazda Australia first naming rights sponsor of the ARC
Check out the spirit jersey and others here http://www.oneaussie.com.au/AUSTRALI...MPIONSHIPS.htm
Mazda Australia first naming rights sponsor of the ARC
May 15, 2007 - 3:21pm
Story by: ARU
The Australian Rugby Union today announced that Mazda Australia will be the naming rights sponsor of the inaugural Australian Rugby Championship.
Mazda Australia has agreed to a two year naming rights arrangement with the Australian Rugby Union.
Teams will compete for the “Mazda Cup”, with the player of the tournament receiving a Mazda vehicle as a prize.
Doug Dickson, managing director of Mazda Australia said the ARC is an exciting concept.
“The ARC creates a focus on Australia’s upcoming rugby talent and adds another dimension to the sport by creating a professional platform to showcase our country’s gifted young players.”
“Through our association with the QLD Reds and NSW Waratahs, Mazda has a longstanding relationship with rugby in Australia and our naming sponsorship of the ARC is a natural progression.”
“Wherever possible Mazda seeks to be a significant sponsor and Mazda’s major partnership with the ARC is in line with this overall strategy.”
The ARU’s General Manager Commercial Operations Brian Thorburn says the ARC and Mazda Australia are a perfect fit.
“Mazda is internationally famous for its innovation. The fact that is will be the inaugural sponsor of an innovation such as the Australian Rugby Championship is very exciting,” he said.
“Mazda’s desire to be the naming rights sponsor for the tournament is evidence of its commitment to the success of Australian rugby.
The Australian Rugby Championship will feature eight teams from Queensland, NSW, Western Australia, the ACT and Victoria.
The competition will also feature the introduction of the so-called Experimental Law Variations, (ELVs) aimed at bringing a new pace and energy to the game.
More than 90 professional players will headline the tournament which kicks off on August 11th and concludes with the final in October.
“More than 550 applications were received from players around the country to take part in the ARC, a fantastic response to this landmark national competition,” Brian Thorburn added.
Waratahs centre and 20 test cap Wallaby Morgan Turinui and fellow former Wallaby and current Brumbies lock Alister Campbell were in attendance at today’s major sponsor unveiling at North Sydney Oval.
“The ARC will open doors for a number of players moving through the club or Academy systems,” Morgan Turinui said.
“New Zealand has the Provincial competition and South Africa the Currie Cup and its good to see a similar tier of competition now in Australia,” he said.
The ARU also today unveiled the draw for 2007 with two ARC matches launching the competition on Friday August 10.
The Sydney Fleet and the Central Coast Rays will do battle at North Sydney Oval from 7pm while the Perth Spirit take on the Western Sydney Rams at Members Equity Stadium in Perth, also on August 10.
The final will be staged on the weekend of October 13 and 14.
The ARU has established the ARC to provide a much-needed stepping-stone between club rugby and the elite level of the game.
A number of Super 14 players will star in the Australian Rugby Championship.
