New Zealand Rugby
NZRU target European expansion
ESPNscrum Staff
November 5, 2011
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw is paraded through the streets with the Webb Ellis Cup, New Zealand victory parade, Rugby World Cup, Auckland, New Zealand, October 24, 2011
The All Blacks brand is riding high after New Zealand's World Cup triumph © Getty Images
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The New Zealand Rugby Union are determined to open a new office in Paris in order to cash in on the massive popularity of the All Blacks and extend their commercial activities in Europe.

Following the All Blacks' win over France in the World Cup final, the NZRU said they would open an office in the French capital before the New Year to capture sponsorship deals on the continent.

Despite the recent fears about the European economy, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew confirmed they would push ahead with plans for expansion into Europe.

"There is no hiding the fact that the world, particularly the western world where rugby is played, is in a very difficult financial position," Tew told the Press. "And the complications that are happening around the Euro at the moment don't make it any easier do they?

"But we just have to work in the market we exist in. We have continued to run, we think, the business part of our game very judiciously over the period of this economic turmoil.

"We are really looking to develop a stronger commercial presence internationally because we are in New Zealand with a very a mature commercial base and want to continue to grow our revenue. We sell, already, a lot of licensing products in France and to a lesser degree in Italy."

The Paris office will be a joint venture with Avenport Investment Group and the first NRZU office outside of New Zealand.

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