Connect with us

URC

Ospreys to play at renamed Swansea.com Stadium

Published

on

Swansea City have announced a new naming rights partnership that will see the club’s home become the Swansea.com Stadium with immediate effect. 

The new 10-year agreement sees Swansea.com take over from Liberty Properties plc as the stadium’s title sponsor. The deal will see Swansea City and the Ospreys represent our city and region by stepping out to play at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Swansea.com is a trading company based in Swansea. It has several investments across different sectors including travel, hospitality, real estate and sports. Swansea.com is proud to be based in Swansea, employing local people in the city in which it invests, and has done for the last 30 years.

It is the latest chapter in the relationship between the two companies. Many of Swansea.com’s businesses have been involved with the club over the last two decades and more.

This began with the sponsorship of a stand at the Vetch Field in 1998, through to appearing on the front of the club’s shirt from 2001 to 2009, with Swansea.com itself holding that position from 2007 to 2009.

Pursuing a new naming rights partner has been looked into extensively since the club agreed a deal with Swansea Council to take on a 37-year lease for the stadium in February of 2018, with the aim of  growing the club commercially.

Relegation from the Premier League and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic added to the challenge of finding the right brand to align with the club and the stadium, which has been known as the Liberty Stadium since shortly after its opening in 2005.

There were a number of global businesses among the interested parties when it came to the naming rights for the stadium, including those within the travel, gambling and cryptocurrency sectors.

However, having elected to move towards a more local focus in our partnerships – including having Swansea University as front of shirt sponsor – the club opted to look at potential naming rights partners within our own city and community.

As a club, the decision to overhaul our commercial outlook and engage with local partners, sponsors and suppliers has proved to be a rewarding one; one which the club believes has future proofed Swansea City and the regional partners it is proud to be working with.

As a result of this desire to choose local, the large majority of businesses Swansea City currently has commercial relationships with operate within the South Wales area.

This has led to this new decade-long agreement with a prominent Swansea-based company in Swansea.com, which guarantees a seven-figure sum to the club and is of a longer tenure than the industry average for stadium naming rights deals; providing the club with additional financial security at a challenging time.

“I am delighted that we, as a club, are able to announce this naming rights deal for the stadium,” said Swansea City chief executive, Julian Winter.

“I am proud of the work we have done as a club when it comes to focusing on our local area and community.

“This football club prides itself on its place at the heart of the community it represents, and adding to our portfolio of local business sponsors and partners is another indicator of our commitment to our city.

“We welcome Swansea.com as our new naming rights partner, and we look forward to a successful period – on and off the pitch – over the next 10 years.”

“From a commercial point of view the main focus has been to drive the commercial longevity of the business and financially futureproof the football club,” said Swansea City’s head of commercial, Rebecca Edwards-Symmons.

“A key part of that has been to find a stadium naming rights partner whose values match our own, and a deal that represents a significant commitment and financial boost to the club following what has been a difficult time at all levels of the game amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“That we have been able to reach agreement with a Swansea-based company makes total sense for us as a football club, and aligns with our desire to accentuate the links we already have with numerous businesses and partners within our city and surrounding area.

“We look forward to what we hope will be a successful future with Swansea City playing at the Swansea.com Stadium.”

“It is an honour and privilege to continue our investment into Swansea City with this 10-year commitment through the stadium naming rights,” said Swansea.com’s group managing director Jacob Hughes.

With many of our businesses being based in Swansea, employing local people, we feel the opportunity to further our partnership with the club is amazing. Over the last 20 years the business has worked hard to invest in the city and its surrounding areas.”

Ospreys CEO, Nick Garcia added: “Competing in the United Rugby Championship and the Champions Cup takes the Ospreys and our supporters around the world, with matches in seven countries across two hemispheres.

“However, nothing makes us happier than hosting global rugby supporters and clubs, where they can meet our supporters and partners at our home in Swansea.  Swansea.com is a great brand that aligns with our roots and will be familiar to many of our supporters. 

“We’re delighted to have them as the new title partner of the stadium and look forward to working with them to build the best rugby matchday experience across the two competitions.”

Cllr Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea Council, said: “I’m delighted our stadium has a name that reflects our wonderful city and a company that has invested in Swansea and its people.

“This long-term commitment will ensure we continue to grow the relationship between the stadium, its football and rugby teams and the people of Swansea.”

Source – Ospreys Rugby


URC

Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Cardiff At Thomond

Published

on

The Munster squad are preparing at the HPC ahead of Saturday night’s URC Round 13 clash against Cardiff at Thomond Park.

The game kicks off at 7.35pm with tickets from €20 available here.

In player news, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash and Peter O’Mahony have all returned to the HPC after helping Ireland to the 6 Nations title.

On the injury front, Academy back-row forward Ruadhán Quinn suffered a hand injury against Ospreys on Friday night and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.

Oli Jager and Fineen Wycherley have started their rehab following minor procedures for respective knee injuries.

Alex Nankivell is completing the RTP protocols and his availability will be determined later this week.

Simon Zebo was unavailable for the Ospreys game due to a low-grade hip injury and is due to return to training this week.

Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).

There were 15 Munster players in AIL action at the weekend.

In Division 1A, Fionn Gibbons and Chris Moore helped Young Munster beat Dublin University with Gibbons among the tries.

Mark Donnelly lined out for Cork Constitution as they were beaten by Terenure College.

Kieran Ryan, Darragh McSweeney and Daniel Okeke couldn’t prevent Shannon falling to a defeat to City of Armagh.

In Division 1B, Colm Hogan, Jack Oliver, George Hadden, Max Clein, Cian Hurley and Jack Daly helped Garryowen to a win over Queen’s University. Hogan, Clein and Cronin were among the tries with Oliver kicking a conversion.

Scott Buckley and Andrew O’Mahony were in action for UCC as they lost to St Mary’s College.

Tickets

URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30

Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13

Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11

Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1

Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

Images & Content from Munster Rugby


Continue Reading

URC

Squad Update | Preparations Continue For Ospreys

Published

on

The Munster squad are continuing preparations ahead of Friday night’s URC Round 12 clash against Ospreys in Swansea (7.35pm).

On the injury front, there is good news for John Hodnett (finger), Jack O’Donoghue (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) as they all return to training this week.

Oli Jager (knee) and Fineen Wycherley (knee) are both due to see specialists this week for possible surgery.

Alex Nankivell is following the return to play protocols following a head injury in training last week.

On the international front, Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman have returned to the squad after Ireland’s 6 Nations triumph at the weekend.

Continuing to rehab: Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder), Diarmuid Barron (foot), Roman Salanoa (knee), Jean Kleyn (knee/eye), Paddy Patterson (knee), Liam Coombes (shoulder), Patrick Campbell (shoulder).

Tickets

URC Round 13: Saturday, March 30

Munster v Cardiff Rugby, Thomond Park, 7.35pm; Buy tickets here

Women’s 6 Nations Round 3: Saturday, April 13

Ireland v Wales, Virgin Media Park, 4.45pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 16: Saturday, May 11

Munster v Connacht, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

URC Round 18: Saturday, June 1

Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 5.15pm; Buy tickets here

Images & Content from Munster Rugby


Continue Reading

URC

British & Irish Lion to join Glasgow Warriors

Published

on

Sutherland to join Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors can confirm that Scotland prop Rory Sutherland will join the club this summer.

The British and Irish Lion joins the Scotstoun-outfit from French side Oyonnax, making the move to Scotstoun on a two-year deal as Franco Smith’s squad continues to take shape.

The confirmation of the loose-head prop’s move to Glasgow also comes on the eve of his involvement in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin, where he is in contention to win his 30th cap for Scotland, part of the match day squad.

The 31-year-old Sutherland will bring a dynamic ball-carrying presence to the Warriors in addition to a solid platform at the set-piece.

After making his debut for Edinburgh in 2014, the prop went on to make 91 appearances in the capital before a summer switch to Worcester Warriors in 2021.

A short-term stint with Ulster followed after Worcester’s demise in 2022, running out on 12 occasions for the Irish province.

Sutherland’s form for Scotland across the 2020 and 2021 campaigns saw him selected for the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, joining future Glasgow team-mate Zander Fagerson amongst the front-row options.

He became the first Scottish prop to represent the invitational squad since the late Tom Smith when selected for the first Test, playing just under an hour in the 22-17 victory over the Springboks.

Sutherland said: “The past couple of years have been tough since I had to leave Worcester. I’ve been at a few clubs and I haven’t had the consistency I’d have liked in my game. This move to Glasgow, and back to Scotland, offers me the chance to work on getting that back into my rugby.

“Glasgow is a really successful team, so to be offered the chance to come to Scotstoun is attractive for any player. For me, it allows me to come back home, and be closer to my family, which will work wonders for me.

“I’ve gotten close to some of the Glasgow players while in camp with Scotland and they talk highly of Franco and the culture in the club. I’m looking forward to that and getting back to the homeland!”

Head Coach Smith added: “We are pleased to be able to add a prop of Rory’s calibre to our squad ahead of next season.

“His qualities will make him a real asset to our playing group, as we continue to develop our strength in every position.

“We look forward to seeing him in action at Scotstoun over the next couple of seasons and we know that the Warrior Nation will welcome him to our club.”

Spread the word

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign up to our newsletter today to receive the latest updates, content and releases from Glasgow Warriors.

Sign-up

Content & Images from – Glasgow Rugby


Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending