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Ulster Rugby has signed a new two-year agreement with Deloitte who are to become the new lead sponsor of the Ulster Women’s Rugby team.

The Irish Rugby Football Union has set ambitious targets to help grow participation in the women’s game across Ireland, with numbers already increasing in Ulster over recent years following the introduction of an Ulster Girls Schools Cup.

A number of players from the Ulster Women’s Rugby team, including Ashleigh Baxter,  have represented Ireland in the Six Nations tournament and are part of the Irish squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup – the final of which will take at the Kingspan Stadium later this month.

Deloitte has played a major role as the lead adviser in Ireland’s bid to host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2023.

The company has also demonstrated its commitment to gender equality by implementing an inclusive leadership culture founded on fairness and respect that has seen the firm set a target of having a 30 per cent female leadership by 2020.

“Deloitte is delighted to be the new sponsor of the Ulster Women’s Rugby team,” said Senior Partner Jackie Henry pictured above with members of the team.

“Female participation in the sport has grown significantly in the past few years and this partnership will help promote women’s rugby to a wider audience.”

“This has been a great year for women’s sport in Ireland, with the Women’s Rugby World Cup final soon to be played here in Belfast, and we felt the time was right for Deloitte to throw its support behind the women’s game.”

Read More: The Changing Landscape of Women’s Sport in Ireland

“Diversity is one of Deloitte’s core values and we are committed to playing our part in helping to raise the profile of women’s sport and helping to get more women and girls to take part.”

“At such an exciting time for Women’s Rugby in Ulster and Ireland, it is welcome and fitting that we will have such a prestigious company as the title sponsor of the Ulster Rugby Women’s team,” added Barry Wills, Operations Manager at Ulster Rugby.

“With the backing of Deloitte, we will continue to support our top female players and provide further and better opportunities for women and girls to excel in the game.”

Join us on Sport for Business next week as we prepare for the new season with a look at how each of the Provinces is set off the field for the expansion of the Guinness Pro14