William Grant & Sons to put the sparkle in Rugby World Cup 2015
World Rugby has announced the appointment of global premium spirits business and independent family distillers William Grant & Sons as official Spirits and Champagne, Tournament Provider to Rugby World Cup 2015
With excitement and anticipation building ahead of what promises to be a record-breaking Tournament, the announcement further underscores the enormous appeal of the Rugby World Cup brand in the global sporting marketplace.
This partnership will mean William Grant & Sons’ UK portfolio of premium brands including Grant’s, Piper-Heidsieck, Glenfiddich, Hendrick’s, Sailor Jerry and Zubrowka will have exclusive pouring rights at all Rugby World Cup 2015 stadiums.
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper said: “We are delighted to welcome another brand sector leader to the international family of Rugby World Cup 2015 commercial partners. The appointment of a company with strong values and globally-renowned brands as official Spirits and Champagne Provider further underscores the prestige of our showcase event.
“With 78 days to go, we are confident that England 2015 will be a wonderful and truly global celebration of rugby and friendship and we look forward to welcoming the world to Rugby World Cup 2015.”
Gary Keogh, Marketing Director, William Grant & Sons UK, said: “We are incredibly excited about our association with Rugby World Cup 2015. This tournament is one of the world’s greatest sporting events and we’re looking forward to engaging millions of rugby fans with our portfolio of brands in and around match venues, at a bar or at home.”
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 £340 million in the development of rugby from the playground to the podium across 120 nations in all continents.
The William Grant & Sons 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 official business advisor, Dove Men+Care as official male grooming supplier, Duracell as official battery provider and ESP as master licensee.