The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) today announced technology company iNSPIRETEK - as its latest commercial partner, on a one-year deal.
As part of the partnership, the Brisbane-based company’s iNSPIRETEK brand will feature on the front of the St.George Queensland Reds playing shorts from tonight, as the Reds take on the Western Force at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in Round 3 of the Super Rugby AU competition.
Founded in 2016 by former elite gymnast Annie Flamsteed, iNSPIRETEK has developed innovative technology that drives positive human behaviour change through wellness tracking, educational content, and connection.
iNSPIRE Sport is an industry first wellness platform that has its foundations in community sport, working with organisations from grassroots clubs through to high performance programs. It provides athletes with engaging and educational resources that they need to grow into happy, healthy and mentally strong athletes.
The platform also provides tools for coaches and club officials to support their athletes in staying in sport and reaching their athletic potential. The technology has now been scaled and rolled out not only within sport but also to the corporate, education, fitness and allied health sectors.
iNSPIRETEK Chief Executive Officer, Robert Donaghue, said: "iNSPIRETEK is on a mission to decrease the rates of mental illness, injury, burn out and drop out amongst young people in sport, and to provide a tool that facilitates a greater understanding of physical and mental wellbeing throughout the different stages of our lives.
“As a Brisbane-based technology company we’re excited to partner with the QRU and the St. George Queensland Reds for the Vodafone 2020 Super Rugby AU season, particularly given the QRU’s ongoing commitment to supporting and managing mental health through the QRU mental health program.
"Sport and technology have a powerful role to play in creating positive change in our communities and this partnership will provide both organisations with the opportunity to create a lasting impact on the mental and physical well-being of male and female Rugby participants at all levels across Queensland, and most importantly those in regional areas who might not otherwise have access to a tool like ours.
"We’re looking forward to working with clubs across the state and welcoming them to join us on the #iNSPIREMOVEMENT, whilst also supporting the St. George Queensland Reds throughout the new and exciting Super Rugby AU competition," Mr Donaghue added.
iNSPIRETEK Founder Annie Flamsteed said: “I set out to create this company off the back of my own personal experiences as a Gymnast, but also after seeing all of the research around athlete physical and mental wellbeing that usually comes to light when athletes retire.
"I wanted to create something that helped identify, prevent and educate athletes at a young age, and something that was affordable and accessible to even the smallest of clubs, in the most remote areas - and we have done exactly that."
QRU CEO David Hanham said: “For the second Reds home game in a row we’re pleased to announce that a Queensland company is jumping on board to support the QRU and the Reds.
“iNSPIRETEK has been particularly impressed with our ‘In Touch’ mental health programming within the Rugby community that runs in partnership with the Queensland State Government. Mentally healthy Rugby environments are an area of focus for us and it’s great that companies can see synergies between our programs and their long-term corporate objectives.
“We expect this partnership will assist to support the next generation of young Rugby players across Queensland and empower them and their clubs to prioritise their well-being through the use of affordable technology,” Mr Hanham added.
Today’s announcement comes hot off the heels of news earlier in July that temporary hire specialists TFH signed as a commercial partner of the QRU and the Reds for three years, joining a stable of blue-chip companies that are committing to sponsor the organisation long-term.
