New Zealand Rugby
NZRU grateful for sponsorship boost
Scrum.com
December 21, 2008
Players from New Zealand's Super 14 sides gather to launch their 2009 kits in Auckland, December 2 2008
Ford will continue to feature on the New Zealand Super 14 shirts for at least the next year © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Super 14
Teams: New Zealand

New Zealand Rugby Union officials have welcomed the one-year extension to their sponsorship deal with Ford.

Ford New Zealand has sponsored the national team and the Super 14 rugby franchises for the past 15 years and announced a one-year extension to their existing deal earlier this month. However the latest agreement does not match the previous three-year contract in a further example of the current restrictive economic climate.

New Zealand Rugby Union commercial manager Paul Dalton told the New Zealand Herald, "At the moment, we're just thrilled that it's been extended. With sponsors, it depends on the circumstances. With Phillips - who were with us last year - it's been a year. But with adidas, they're signed right up to 2019."

Dalton also revealed that further discussions would take place with the company near the end of next year. "Nothing changes. They'll continue to sponsor us up until 2009, and if we get there and things change we'll figure it out then."

Ford New Zealand sponsorship manager Suzanne Van Pels told the newspaper that various circumstances had led to the year-long contract. "Our business strategy has changed," she said. "We've got a different sponsorship strategy now - it's purely business."

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