The seven-figure deal secures title sponsorship of Wales’ Autumn fixture schedule for the next two seasons, beginning with ‘Dove Men Series’ clashes with South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia this November, and also extends to cover preparatory matches played at the Millennium Stadium prior to Rugby World Cup 2015.
Tickets for the 2013 Dove Men Series went on public sale today (Monday) with returning head coach Warren Gatland, who has been on secondment with British and Irish Lions, expressing his delight at the prospect of returning ‘home’.
Dove Men+ Care have also sponsored individual fixtures – against Australia in 2011 and the Rugby World Cup ‘warm-up matches’ earlier that summer – but the two organisations are now delighted to announce they have reached a longer term agreement to work together as principal partners.
As a ‘principal partner’ of the Welsh Rugby Union, Dove Men+Care join Admiral and Under Armour and also a raft of international organisations as sponsers – Heineken, Brains, NatWest, Guinness, Principality, and Swalec – further enhancing the WRU’s published strategic aim to position itself as a global brand and take Wales to the world through its rugby.
“We are delighted to welcome Dove Men+Care to the WRU as a principal partner,” said WRU head of sales and marketing Craig Maxwell.
“They are the latest in an illustrious list of international companies and brands to have aligned themselves to the WRU and we are particular pleased to be able to announce the initial partnership until 2016.
“It is vital to the future and long term strategic planning of Welsh rugby that we are able to agree partnerships of this type, which will give us added financial security over the next three years.
“We are now looking forward to working closely with Dove Men+Care on the activation of their sponsorship and on ensuring both parties can get the very best out of our new relationship.”
John Savage, Dove Men+Care Brand Manager added:
“The relationship with the WRU to date has been a successful one, and we are thrilled to announce that both our partnership with the union and the Dove Men Series will continue for a further three years.
“The strength and quality of the current Welsh side offers the perfect platform to showcase the high performance and superior skin care benefits of the Dove Men+Care male grooming range.
“We look forward to activating the partnership and bringing fans closer to the sport, at a time when rugby interest will only increase in light of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup in 2015.”
The WRU has noticed a huge upsurge in interest in tickets for the Dove Men Series 2013, measured via official supporters club members, online pre-registration for tickets and social media channels, since the dramatic climax of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia.
Fans who pre-registered online for the opportunity to buy tickets snapped up thousands in the last week, with official supporters club members and rugby clubs themselves also buying in large numbers after being handed the right of first refusal – huge numbers considering the Series opener is still more than three months away.
Tickets to see Warren Gatland’s Wales face the Wallabies in Cardiff have been particularly popular since that fourth fixture was added to the calendar, but it is the first up Prince William Cup meeting with the Springboks which will set the tone for the Autumn:
“It will be great for the team to be back at the Millennium Stadium, in front of their home fans and to return to the scene of the RBS 6 Nations title victory, clinched earlier this year,”
said Gatland who is back after last taking charge of Wales in matches against New Zealand and then Australia in November 2012, a series which was also sponsored by Dove Men+ Care in a one-off arrangement.
“This autumn we welcome three Rugby Championship sides as well as Tonga to Cardiff for what will be a testing series, it is another chance for us to lay down a marker and for the returning British and Irish Lions to pick up from where they left off this summer.”
Wales Dove Men Series 2013:
Wales v South Africa – Saturday, 9 November, Kick-Off 5.30pm – £70 / £60 / £40 / £25
Wales v Argentina – Saturday, 16 November, Kick-Off 2.30pm – £40 / £30 / £10 concession (U16) /£70 Family ticket 2 adults + 2 concession
Wales v Tonga – Friday, 22 November, Kick-Off 7.30pm – £25 / £10 concession/ £60 Family ticket 2 adult + 2 concession/ Minis/Juniors/Schools offer, with every 8 concessions purchased earn 2 adult tickets free
Wales v Australia – Saturday, 30 November, Kick-Off 5.00pm – £70 / £60 / £40 / £25
