Powergen extends sponsorship of Rugby League Challenge Cup
31st August 2005Powergen announced today (31 August) that it has extended its sponsorship of Rugby League's Challenge Cup Tournament for the 2006 season, in a two year agreement which will see the UK's largest integrated energy company enter its fourth season as Title Sponsor.
Since Powergen became sponsor of the competition in 2002, the Challenge Cup has proved a highly effective communication tool, allowing the energy supplier to engage directly with Rugby League fans on a regular basis, whilst benefiting from fantastic levels of brand awareness - including over 50 hours of television coverage and two sell-out finals at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
The deal also sees Powergen continue as the RFL's official energy supplier and Title Sponsor of the Powergen Champion Schools Tournament - the largest knockout Rugby League tournament in the world, involving 25,000 secondary school pupils from across the UK. In addition, Powergen will continue its shirt sponsorship of the Rugby League Match Officials, providing a presence throughout the season both on Sky Sports and the BBC. Powergen's Match Officials sponsorship also includes the Match Officials Development Programme, designed to develop, retain and increase the numbers of Rugby League Match Officials in the UK.
In conjunction with Powergen's sponsorship extension, The Rugby Football League also announced today that the 2006 Powergen Challenge Cup is to retain its new position within the Rugby League Summer calendar, with the Final taking place on Saturday 26 August at the new Wembley Stadium.
Commenting on the extension, Mike Thompson, Powergen Sponsorship Manager said: "We are delighted to be entering in to our fourth year of partnership with the RFL and we are excited to play a role in the Challenge Cup's historic return to Wembley. To date we have enjoyed three very successful seasons in Rugby League, a sport that fits our brand values. Rugby League is currently experiencing unprecedented popularity and consequently the sponsorship continues to provide an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to fans and raise brand awareness both in the traditional Rugby League heartlands and on a national scale."
He added; "We are looking forward to building on the relationships strengthened in 2005 and hope that as many fans and players as possible continue to benefit from our sponsorships."
Richard Lewis, the Rugby Football League's Executive Chairman, said: "We are very pleased that Powergen is to continue its support of the Challenge Cup competition for a further two years.
"During the last three seasons Powergen has provided exceptional backing not only for this historic, traditional competition, but also for our community programmes, the hugely successful Champion Schools Tournament and our match officials.
"We look forward to continuing our working relationship with Powergen and pursuing our mutual objectives through this sponsorship package".