The Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) and St.George Bank today announced their commitment to renew their partnership for a further three-year term.
St.George Bank is set to embark on its fifth term as a sponsor with the Queensland Reds, which will see a fourteen-year-long commitment to the Rugby community in Queensland.
The next three-year-term will see the bank move from the front of the Queensland Reds playing jersey onto the left sleeve – and also into stronger grassroots initiatives to help local clubs thrive during and post the current Covid-19 environment.
The move thereby opens up an opportunity for another blue-chip organisation to join the Reds growing corporate family as the Reds’ principle naming-rights partner.
Ross Miller, General Manager for St.George Bank said their partnership with QRU enables the bank to have a large footprint across the state which sees participants from over 200 clubs and 500 schools take part in Rugby.
“Over the past 12-months we’ve seen the grassroots of rugby face into incredibly tough times; from drought, to bushfires as well as Covid-19. Our renewed partnership with the Queensland Rugby Family is aimed at helping these local Rugby clubs navigate these challenges, both on and off the field and ensure they can continue to keep their lights on during a Covid-19 environment.”
St.George’s partnership will also focus on diversity and inclusion across the code, remaining as partner to the Brisbane Hustlers, Brisbane's only LGBTI and all-inclusive rugby union team, and a two-year partnership the Modified Rugby Program founded by Gingercloud Foundation, St.George and the QRU six years ago.
The modified version of rugby allows children with autism, Asperger’s as well as learning and perceptual difficulties to play competitive rugby at over 16 local clubs across the state.
David Hanham, QRU CEO thanked St.George for its support over the decade as principal naming rights partner and looked forward to further growing the relationship over the coming three years.
“Our partnership with St.George has been an enduring influence on Rugby in Queensland. We are delighted that the relationship will continue for another three years, which will mean 14 years of support from the Elite to the Grassroots.
“Today’s announcement provides an opportunity for another corporate partner to become the Reds’ first new naming rights partner in more than a decade and join a strong family of sponsors that includes St.George, Santos, Rio Tinto and other corporate partners that continue to support Rugby at all levels across the state.
“The successful corporate candidate will be only our fourth principal naming rights partner in over 30 years.”
The St.George/QRU partnership is one of the longest unbroken sponsorship relationships in Australian Rugby.
