It is one of the most valuable and most visible partnerships in Irish sport and the relationship between Vodafone and Irish Rugby is to continue for at least another four years.
The extension announced this morning will see Vodafone continue as the principal sponsor of the Ireland men’s rugby team and communications partner to the IRFU through to 2028, taking in another World Cup Cycle in the United States as well as so much more.
The #TeamOfUs campaigns have been to the fore in the way in which sporting sponsorships have been put to use as the primary communications tool for brands reaching into mainstream TV advertising and an omnipresent sense of sport and brand as one.
The new deal, which will commence on 1st July 2024, includes a key partnership with the Ireland women’s team, which will see the Vodafone brand appearing on the back of the women’s jersey from 2024 and the continuation of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship partnership.
Aon renewed their deal with the Women’s team earlier this year but it is an area that Vodafone has been nudging to be involved with since the first deal was signed back in May 2106.
The multi-year partnership will see Vodafone and the IRFU continue to work together to use new and existing 5G technology to enhance both fan and player experiences.
This was brought to life recently with the unveiling of new technology at the IRFU High Performance Centre.
The Vodafone Technical Area enables coaches and players to use 5G Mobile Private Network (MPN) technology to enhance analysis capabilities and adjust training performance in real time.
The technology has also travelled to France and is enabling coaches and players to prepare at the top of their game.
Vodafone customers will continue to enjoy numerous benefits including exclusive content and different activations making a difference in the choice of your mobile phone contract.
“At Vodafone, we take great pride in being the principal sponsor of Irish Rugby since 2016 and we’re delighted to be extending our partnership for a further four years to 2028,” said Amanda Nelson, CEO of Vodafone Ireland.
“We have worked hard to create the most interconnected team and fanbase on the planet and want to continue helping fans feel the connection to Irish Rugby.”
“We also have a shared ambition with the IRFU to grow the game on the island of Ireland, so I am very proud to announce the continuation of our partnership as principal sponsor of the immensely successful men’s team alongside the fantastic Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship and now the expansion of our partnership to include the Ireland women’s team.”
“We have also recently expanded our role as IRFU technology partner through their adoption of the latest cutting-edge 5G Mobile Private Network (MPN) technology to increase the communication of performance data between the coaches and players. They are the only team to have access to this technology during the Rugby World Cup in France with the bespoke Vodafone 5G Connected Van.”
“The IRFU are thrilled to extend our partnership with Vodafone and warmly welcome the increasing role they are taking in our women’s game,” added IRFU CEO Kevin Potts.
“Since 2016 Vodafone has been the official sponsor of Irish Rugby and together, we have experienced great success. As a not for profit, the revenue from sponsorship deals such as these are crucial to the delivery of our plans to ensure Irish rugby teams remain competitive on the global stage.”
“I’d like to thank Amanda and her team for their commitment and investment in Irish rugby. The activation of “Team of Us” by Vodafone has been fantastic exposure for the IRFU brand and we look forward to continued success, both on and off the field, together for years to come.”
Watch out for a Business of Rugby Podcast interview with Vodafone Head of Sponsorship Gerry Nixon which will be coming out in the coming weeks.
