Out go Aviva, but who will sponsor Premiership?
PREMIER RUGBY are confident of having a new title sponsor in place to replace Aviva who end their sponsorship of the Premiership next weekend.
The insurance giants have been the sponsor of English rugby’s Premier competition since July 2010 when they replaced Guinness in a four-year deal worth £20 million.
They renewed in May 2013 but then announced last year they would not be continuing – and despite having had a year’s notice Premier Rugby haven’t got anyone lined up.
It has sparked fears from some clubs who are already looking at heavy losses that they will be left to fill another blackhole in their finances. One source told
Blindside: “Clubs were promised the earth when European Professional Club Rugby was formed so we spent money on our playing budgets accordingly.
“But then they came back and said, ‘Whoops, sorry, we aren’t going to get what we thought,” which left us to find the difference.
“Now they have had over a year to find a title sponsor but still don’t have anyone in place and some clubs are more than a little concerned.
“It would be a nightmare to have no sponsor and just calling it the Premiership.”
A spokesman for Premier Rugby said discussions have been positive and they are confident of having someone in place by the start of next season. “Premiership Rugby has never been in better health and we remain in discussions over the new title partnership,” said the spokesman. “This season has seen record attendances, live TV audience are up, tries are up and we have just signed a deal with Channel 5 so we will have live matches on terrestrial TV for the first time in our history. “Obviously, we would not comment on individual commercial negotiations while in progress.”