Ulster Rugby agrees new shirt sponsorship deals with Kingspan and Bank of Ireland
Ulster Rugby has agreed new four-year shirt sponsorship deals with Kingspan and Bank of Ireland.
The agreements will see Kingspan become main jersey sponsor, while Bank of Ireland will retain its position as an official sponsor with branding on the back of the playing shirts.
Both Kingspan and Bank of Ireland have long-term associations with the province. Kingspan’s partnership stretches back to 1999, while Bank of Ireland has been a sponsor for the past 18 years.
In the summer of 2014, Kingspan agreed a ten-year stadium naming rights deal with Ulster Rugby and this new shirt sponorship agreement represents a further extension of the long-standing relationship between the global leader in high performance sustainable building products and the province.
The combined agreements with Kingspan and Bank of Ireland will result in record shirt sponsorship revenues for Ulster Rugby.
Commenting on the new shirt sponsorship agreements, Ulster Rugby’s Chief Executive, Shane Logan, said:
“Ulster Rugby has always had excellent relationships with both Kingspan and Bank of Ireland and I am delighted that we have signed new long-term agreements with our two biggest sponsors.
“These contracts will ensure long-term sustainability at the province as well as giving us the resource to be able to retain and recruit top talent for the senior team.
“I look forward to continuing to work with both Kingspan and Bank of Ireland in the coming years and to helping them achieve maximum return on their investments.”
Pat Freeman, Kingspan, said: “The partnership between Kingspan and Ulster Rugby is already well established, both through our long-term sponsorship of the province and our recent agreement for Kingspan Stadium.
“Over the past decade, Kingspan Group has significantly grown its business around the world, but particularly in the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe.
“As Ulster Rugby competes in two high-profile tournaments throughout these locations, it is a perfect partnership to support the Kingspan brand and business.
“This new commitment from Kingspan serves to deepen the relationship that we have with Ulster Rugby and I am delighted that our name and logo will now feature on the front of the province’s jersey for the first time.”
Sean Sheehan, Regional Director Bank of Ireland UK, said: “Our new four year sponsorship with Ulster Rugby extends a great partnership that has gone from strength to strength over more than 18 years.
“The new agreement makes commercial sense for the bank, not least because it enables us to build on this long-standing association with the province and its hugely passionate supporters. We are maintaining strong brand visibility on the back of the shirt and, as an official sponsor of Ulster Rugby, it enables us to develop relationships with consumers and extend our business reach.
“We are proud to have ‘stood up for the Ulster men’ for almost two decades and we are really excited about continuing to work with the players, management and supporters to take this valuable association forward.”
