The European Rugby Champions’ Cup has landed a second top line commercial partner to sit alongside Heineken as it enters the second year of its existence.
Turkish Airlines is to become an official partner of the main event and the second tier Challenge Cup for an initial period of three years until the end of the 2017/18 season.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 4 November during EPCR’s Tournament Launch for the 2015/16 season at the Twickenham Stoop which was attended by key rugby and business media as well as high-profile representatives of clubs competing in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
Turkish Airlines is the fourth-largest carrier in the world based on the number of its destinations and also flies to more countries than any other airline.
Turkish Airlines currently sponsors the Bundesliga club, Borussia Dortmund, and has been the title sponsor of basketball’s Turkish Airlines Euroleague since 2010. Last year, the airline became the main sponsor of Japan’s national basketball league, the Turkish Airlines BJ-league, and it is also the title sponsor of the Turkish Airlines Open on golf’s European Tour.
“The fact that we are joining forces with a truly global brand is great news for European club rugby,” said European Professional Club Rugby Chairman, Simon Halliday.
“We believe that the new-look Champions Cup and Challenge Cup made great strides in the inaugural season, and now to have an ambitious, dynamic partner on board such as Turkish Airlines is a major boost for the tournaments.
“While this is the company’s first rugby sponsorship, Turkish Airlines have been associated with top-class sport for many years and we are certain that they will be a factor in broadening the base of club rugby in Europe and bringing the game to new, enthusiastic fans.”
Speaking to Sport for Business last night Murat Bland, Turkish Airlines’ General Manager Ireland told us “We are delighted to announce our long-term sponsorship of the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.”
“This new agreement is of particular importance for us in the Irish Market as research indicated that 43% of the Irish population are interested in Rugby which is the highest ratio in Europe.”
“Therefore, this sponsorship will provide the ideal platform to connect with our market, raising the profile of Turkish Airlines in a highly competitive industry while aligning Turkish Airlines with a premium product.”
There had been strong rumours that Turkish Airlines were to be involved with the PRO12 before Guinness took on that title sponsorship and it is good news for the sport that it has now come on board in such fashion.
The 2015/16 European club rugby season kicks off on Thursday, 12 November with the Challenge Cup meeting of Harlequins and Montpellier at the Twickenham Stoop. All four Irish provinces will be in action that same weekend.
EPCR’s 2016 finals will both be staged at the Grand Stade de Lyon with the Challenge Cup final going ahead on Friday, 13 May 2016 followed by the Champions Cup decider the following day, Saturday, 14 May 2016.
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