Asia Rugby Secures multi-year title sponsorship deal with Emirates Airline
Asia Rugby and Emirates Partnership Sets Sights on Taking Rugby on the Continent to Greater Heights

“I am delighted to welcome Emirates as Title Sponsor of Asia Rugby for Competitions,” declared Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai as he announced that the governing body of rugby on the continent has secured a landmark multi-year title sponsorship deal with UAE’s prestigious flag carrier. “With Emirates’ support, we are poised to bring the excitement and values of rugby to a new generation of athletes and fans.”

The airline will be the title sponsor across Asia Rugby competitions and tournaments, including the Asia Rugby Men’s and Women’s Championships, the Asia Rugby Sevens Series and age-grade competitions. These tournaments offer a pathway to premier regional and global competitions such as the Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Olympic Games, Asian Games as well as the HSBC SVNS Series and the World Rugby Sevens Challenger.

Expanding on the nature and aims of the sponsorship agreement, the Asia Rugby President explained: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the reach and impact of rugby across our 36 members and across Asia. Our growing reputation for reliability, credibility and professionalism has given Emirates the confidence to associate their brand with ours.

“With the United Arab Emirates serving as the headquarters of Asia Rugby, this partnership with Emirates Airlines feels like a perfect synergy. The UAE has become a central location for rugby activities, providing a strategic base to coordinate and grow the sport across the continent. Emirates is synonymous with premier rugby events globally, and this collaboration is set to elevate the sport’s profile across Asia, leveraging Emirates’ extensive experience and brand prestige in the rugby world.

“In the last five years, we have established Asia Rugby as a brand with more tournaments and increased the reach of our social media with all of our events live-streamed, we have been working to bring rugby to Asia.

Our shared goal is to empower athletes, build a robust talent pipeline, and cultivate a passionate fan base that will sustain the sport for years to come.”

Emirates shall feature as the title sponsor of more than 20 competitions, starting with the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Men’s and Women’s Round 2, set to begin on 21st September 2024 in Hangzhou, China. The tournament features the top 8 men’s and women’s teams contesting ranking spots for the final round to be played in Bangkok, Thailand in November.

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“Emirates has a long history of supporting rugby, dating back to our early days as an airline. Since then, we’ve deepened our presence within the sport across every level, from supporting global organisations and tournaments like World Rugby and five consecutive Rugby World Cups, and the global 7s series, to headlining the Emirates Dubai 7s and growing the footprint of the UAE Rugby Federation,” stated Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, on the occasion.

“We’re particularly proud to extend our support to Asia Rugby to take the sport into new markets and boost its appeal, as well as open untapped possibilities for younger athletes to develop their skills and realize their full potential. And this is just the start. We will continue to harness the power of grassroots sporting activities that forge strong bonds with the communities we serve to meaningfully contribute to their growth and resilience.”