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New Look & New Sponsor Has Rays Ready to Launch
Friday, 15 June 2007
NSWRU Media Unit
The Central Coast Rays are all set to launch into the inaugural Mazda Australian Rugby Championship, with a bold new jersey and leading office supplier Imagetec on board as the side's first naming rights sponsor.
The jersey, designed by Canterbury and featuring an emerald green torso with navy sides & sleeves and white trim in the shape of a manta ray, was officially launched today at a gala luncheon in Gosford.
The Rays have also signed boutique brewer Bluetongue, naming rights sponsor of their home ground, Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium, as sleeve sponsor for the 2007 season.
Rays Chairman Russell Tate said the jersey launch and announcement of a major sponsor marked the real start of the Rays 2007 campaign.
"In just eight weeks we play our first game against Sydney Fleet, and a week later our first home game at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium", Mr. Tate said.
"We have an enormous amount of work to do in that time but I am very confident that coach John McKee will have a team ready to give this competition a real shake.
"I am also confident that the people of the Central Coast, along with supporters from our feeder teams, will provide a supporter base which will set the standard for this competition."
The new strip, which also features navy shorts with white trim and navy socks with an emerald hoop, was today modelled by players Ben Jacobs, Beau Robinson, Josh Mann-Rae and David Harvey, all of whom are expected to turn out for the Rays in their season opener against the Sydney Fleet on August 10.
Jacobs and Robinson will link with fellow Waratahs Al Manning, Brett Sheehan, Sam Harris and Peter Hewat at the Rays, while either Kurtley Beale or Sam Norton-Knight will play flyhalf, dependent on the make up of the Wallabies World Cup squad.
Rays head coach John McKee is confident the team will be competitive with the high quality roster at their disposal.
"Certainly we've got the potential for an exciting backline and from talking to the players they're very keen to get stuck in," McKee said.
"We're assembling an innovative team and with the experience we have on board there is great potential to be able to play an exciting game.
"We've also got a good mix of Academy guys who have performed well at NSW A level and some excellent club players and juniors, including a couple of Australian 19's in Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Pat McCabe, who will be keen to do well."
The acquisition of Imagetec along with sleeve sponsor Bluetongue forms the basis for of a solid sponsorship platform for the Rays, who are well advanced in achieving their sponsorship budget for 2007.
"The Rays have taken a proactive approach towards attracting sponsorship and the signing of two key deals, with Imagetec and Bluetongue, is a just reward for their efforts," NSWRU Chief Executive Fraser Neill said.
"They've really embraced the challenge of getting support from the corporate sector and, while there's still plenty of opportunity to get on board, they've set an example for others to follow."
CENTRAL COAST RAYS - CONTRACTED PLAYERS 2007
Al Manning - Hooker
Beau Robinson - Flanker
Brett Sheehan - Scrumhalf
Kurtley Beale* - Flyhalf
Sam Norton-Knight* - Flyhalf
Sam Harris - Inside Centre
Ben Jacobs - Outside Centre/Utility Back
Peter Hewat - Fullback
*Dependent on Wallaby World Cup selection.
Other Mentioned Names:
David Harvey
Josh Mann-Rae
Pat McCabe
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
About the Central Coast Rays:
The Central Coast Rays are the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship team for an area stretching from the Central Coast to the northern shoreline of Sydney Harbour.
The Rays will play their home matches at Gosford's Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium and will be backed by feeder clubs Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs and Warringah, as well as the Central Coast Rugby Union.
A brand new website will be launched shortly. Until then, find out more at http://www.waratahs.com.au/DrawsandC...CoastRays.aspx
About Imagetec:
Imagetec is Australia's largest independent distributor of office equipment providing leading edge document management, printing and imaging solutions throughout Australia.
Imagetec's independent status means it is able to give its customers a level of convenience that its competition cannot, combining the very latest in office technology with an unmatched service and support network.
Find out more at www.imagetec.com.au
About Bluetongue:
Launched in November 2003, Bluetongue is a 100% Australian owned brewery that has become firmly entrenched in the Australian market as a producer of premium quality boutique beers.
Based in the NSW Hunter Valley and with strong links to the local community through its naming rights sponsorship of Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium and sponsorship of the Newcastle Knights NRL team, Bluetongue is proud to add the Central Coast Rays to its stable of stars.
Find out more at www.bluetonguebrewery.com.au