Old Mutual Wealth is to become a Principal Partner of England Rugby from 2016 and will be the title sponsor of England Rugby Men’s and Women’s Autumn Internationals, which will become known as the Old Mutual Wealth Series from 2016.
This is the first Principal Partnership to cover both teams’ autumn matches.
The England Senior team will play four consecutive Tests against Southern Hemisphere opponents in 2016 at Twickenham Stadium against South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Fiji, with all four matches broadcast live on Sky Sports HD and dedicated highlights programmes on the BBC. England Women will play home fixtures against France and Canada with the match against Canada taking place at Twickenham Stadium following the Argentina international. They will also play an away Test against Ireland on Sunday 13 November and a potential further home fixture with another opponent is being arranged.
The Old Mutual Wealth Series will pit England’s men’s and women’s teams against some of the best Test rugby sides in the world, and the Old Mutual Wealth brand will be highly visible at all match venues, including on perimeter advertising, post protectors and all match ticketing material.
The deal also includes title sponsorship of England Men’s annual May fixture, which from 2016 becomes the Old Mutual Wealth Cup, and title sponsorship of a new grass roots campaign, to be launched in 2016.
The first Old Mutual Wealth Cup will see England face Wales in a capped match at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 29 May.
The partnership was unveiled at Twickenham Stadium on December 2, 2015, with Old Mutual Wealth Ambassadors and England players Mike Brown, Joe Launchbury and Sarah Hunter.
Paul Feeney (pictured), CEO of Old Mutual Wealth, says: “We are delighted to announce this new partnership with English Rugby. It's a wonderful and rewarding sport. One which manages, uniquely, to bring together extreme passion and mutual respect.
“As a new breed of wealth manager, we admire that combination and seek to emulate it in our business. We are building Old Mutual Wealth for those who want to make a positive difference, for themselves, their families and their communities.
“We hope that our involvement with the sport will go beyond the branding, to build the sport and help it prosper.”
Sophie Goldschmidt, RFU Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer, said:
"We are delighted to welcome Old Mutual Wealth to the RFU family in an expanded partnership. As one of the UK’s leading wealth management businesses, they have a fantastic heritage and it’s great to have them make this commitment to men’s and women’s rugby in England. We look forward to building on that with them over the next four years.”
