Sarah Hunter, Mike Brown, Joe Launchbury (photo England Rugby)
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) today announced a long-term partnership with Old Mutual Wealth, the UK’s leading wealth management business, as a Principal Partner of England Rugby.
The four-year agreement will see Old Mutual Wealth become title partner of the England Men’s and Women’s autumn internationals, which will both become the Old Mutual Wealth Series from 2016. This is the first time England Women will have a title partner for their autumn series.
The England Senior team will play four consecutive Tests against Southern Hemisphere opponents in 2016 at Twickenham Stadium against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia* with all four matches broadcast live on Sky Sports HD.
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 partnership was unveiled at Twickenham Stadium with Old Mutual Wealth Ambassadors and England players Mike Brown, Joe Launchbury and Women’s captain Sarah Hunter.
Speaking of the support Old Mutual Wealth will provide to the women’s game Hunter said: “It’s fantastic to have Old Mutual Wealth on board as partner for our autumn series. This is a significant step forward for the women’s game and it’s great to get that recognition from such a leading and respected company. The Old Mutual Wealth Series will be great preparation for us as we head into the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Not only will we be able to face some quality opponents, the squad will be boosted with players returning from the sevens programme.”
England fullback Mike Brown said: “It’s great to be able to take on four such quality teams on back to back weekends. It allows us to test ourselves against some high calibre opposition and it’s great that Old Mutual Wealth is supporting the series.”
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.”
Paul Feeney, Chief Executive, Old Mutual Wealth, said: “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.”
The new partnership will also see Old Mutual Wealth assume title sponsorship of England Men’s annual May fixture, which from 2016 becomes the Old Mutual Wealth Cup. The first opponents England will face in this fixture will be Wales in a capped match at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday 29 May. Tickets go on public sale at 10am on Monday 7 December. Visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk or www.eticketing.co.uk/rfu to book.
Old Mutual Wealth will also be supporting a significant grass roots rugby programme, with more details following in the New Year.
Fixtures for the 2016 Old Mutual Wealth Series
England men’s fixtures all at Twickenham Stadium and broadcast live on Sky Sports HD
- Wednesday, 9 November: England Women v France Women KO, venue and broadcast details TBC
- Saturday, 12 November: England v South Africa KO 14.30
- Sunday, 13 November: Ireland Women v England Women KO, venue and broadcast details TBC
- Saturday, 19 November: England v Fiji KO 14.30
- Saturday, 26 November: England v Argentina, KO 14.30
- Saturday, 26 November: England Women v Canada Women, KO TBC, Twickenham Stadium
- Saturday, 3 December: England v Australia, KO 14.30*
Ticket prices and availability for the 2016 Old Mutual Wealth Series will be announced in due course.
*Subject to final agreement with Premiership Rugby Limited
