As the WRU’s national community partner, the four-year agreement will see SWALEC invest “significantly” in supporting rugby in Wales and continue as the National Leagues and Cup sponsor. SWALEC first signed up as the national community partner in 2008 in a deal that saw the company become national sponsor of both the SWALEC Leagues and SWALEC Cup, Plate and Bowl competition. Financial details of the new agreement have not been disclosed.
The 2008 sponsorship deal enabled the traditional cup format to be transformed into a three-tier competition that has now run for three seasons. According to the WRU, SWALEC’s backing has also enabled more than 6,000 players to compete every week in the SWALEC Leagues and has allowed eight junior rugby teams the opportunity to train under the national team’s coaching staff at the WRU’s National Centre of Excellence.
“SWALEC has a rich history of supporting the Welsh Rugby Union and so we are delighted that they have decided to continue their partnership for another four years,” said WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis. “Grassroots rugby is the heart and soul of our game. That such a leading energy provider as SWALEC recognise this importance and endorse everything that is done by our clubs is testimony to this outstanding relationship.”
Stephen Forbes, SWALEC’s director of sales, marketing and energy services, added: “At SWALEC, we are committed to supporting the communities in which we serve and this sponsorship is demonstrative of this. With our renewed partnership of Welsh rugby, we want to build on the positive legacy our investment has achieved and continue to invest in initiatives that will benefit rugby communities all over Wales, as well as rewarding our loyal customers and staff with lots of related benefits.”
