World Rugby has announced the appointment of Unilever’s leading male skincare brand, Dove Men+Care as official male grooming supplier of Rugby World Cup 2015.
The deal is a natural fit between two leading brands and reinforces Dove Men+Care’s commitment to a sport that continues to go from strength to strength.
With 109 days to go until kick-off, the announcement further cements England 2015 as the most commercially-successful Rugby World Cup to date, delivering an anticipated unprecedented investment boost for rugby development worldwide.
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Dove Men+Care to Rugby World Cup’s growing family of major global commercial partners.
“The appointment of another brand sector leader with a passion for rugby to our record-breaking commercial programme is great news for the sport and further underscores the strength of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global sponsorship marketplace.”
“With a little over 100 days to go until England 2015 kicks off, the stage is set for a very special, biggest and indeed best-ever Rugby World Cup that will reach, engage and inspire more audiences than any previous edition.”
Callum Galloway, Dove Men+Care Brand Manager: “The addition of one of the world’s most prestigious major sporting events to our sponsorship portfolio is extremely exciting for both Dove Men+Care and Unilever as a whole. Having established our commitment to rugby over the last few years, this partnership with Rugby World Cup 2015 is a natural extension of our existing relationships with the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh Rugby Unions.
“We very much look forward to the next few months and an association that will widen our exposure to consumers through a full digital and social engagement programme, including ticket-win opportunities while offering deodorants and shower gels to all 620 participating players.”
Rugby World Cup 2015 is on track to be the best-attended, most-viewed, most-socially engaged and most competitive Rugby World Cup to date and the commercial success of the 2015 edition, coupled with New Zealand 2011 is enabling World Rugby to invest more than £330 million in the development of rugby from the playground to the podium across 120 nations in all continents.
The Dove Men+Care announcement follows the appointment of Heineken, Land Rover, Société Générale, DHL, Emirates and MasterCard as Rugby World Cup 2015 Worldwide Partners, Coca-Cola, Canon and Toshiba as Official Sponsors, Gilbert as Official Ball Supplier, Canterbury of New Zealand as Official Sportswear Supplier, Clifford Chance as Official Law Firm, EY as Business Advisor, and ESP as Master Licensee.
