UC joins forces with Brumbies

[mudskipper]

[/CENTER]"this is a nice fit for the Brumbies in a strong student town..."

The ACT Brumbies will carry the name of the University of Canberra on their jerseys this year, starting a partnership that could lead to the football club moving to the UC campus.

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan and university Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker signed yesterday what they believe is an Australian-first sponsorship agreement. The one-year deal will see the university gain international exposure throughout the Super Rugby season and provide the Brumbies with much needed financial support.

Professor Parker said while the sponsorship would boost the university's profile as a ''sporting university'', the partnership could lead to the two groups sharing a home.

''We see ourselves as a major Canberra institution, so are the Brumbies, and this kind of alliance is good for the city,'' Professor Parker said.

''Longer term, I'm attracted by the North American model, where the university and the sports team are close together, where students are fans wanting to got to the games and graduates want to be closer to the team.

''That model is really attractive.

''We aren't there yet, but there are discussions going on and I could see that it would be a very good fit.''

Neither the Brumbies nor the university would disclose the sponsorship value, but it is believed to be similar to the $1million a season Chinese technology company Huawei had pledged last year.

That deal collapsed just before Christmas.

The university's logo will feature prominently on the front of the home jersey, which marks a subtle shift back towards the club's traditional jersey and is likely to be more popular with supporters.

Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan hoped the partnership would deepen the club's connection to Canberra and introduce new supporters through the university.

''We think this is a first for partnership of this kind in Australia,'' Mr Fagan said.

''This will be more than just a traditional sponsorship.

''It enables us to partner with a prominent and respected Canberra institution, to proudly promote the city of Canberra on the front of the jersey and to engage directly with tens of thousands of students, staff and alumni, who we hope will be a feature at Brumbies matches.''

The deal with UC will fill a major hole in the club's budget left after the 12-year association with former sponsor Computer Associates ended last year. The club posted a $200,000 loss last season, due mainly to low attendances during its worst season.

The collapse of the Huawei deal raised the prospect of the Australian Rugby Union stepping in to help cover the shortfall.

''It's a significant relief that we've been able to find a sponsor,'' Mr Fagan said.

''It was critical that we shored up our revenue and a lot of work has gone into getting us to this point.''

While no deal has been done for the Brumbies to relocate to the university grounds, a shift from Griffith has been discussed for several years, due mainly to the poor standard of facilities there.

The club had its plans to redevelop Griffith Oval blocked on heritage grounds in 2010 and is currently awaiting a decision on its contentious application to rezone the site of its headquarters for redevelopment as apartments.



http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0

[Burgs]

Bet the Prof dropped that pass...

[Sheikh]

So no disclosure of the sponsorship amount, just "financial support" and the possibility that the Brumbies will move to University facilities. Sounds like such a positive deal

[Burgs]

It would be no small amount to realise the value of being on the wooden spooners jersey Sheikh!
I'm tipping somewhere in the order of $200, a couple of cans of Coke and a knob of billygoat shit would have swung it.

[Sheikh]

If it were any more than that, the students should be complaining about mis-use of uni funds!

[Burgs]

UFC joins forces with Brumbies would be a more exciting heading

[The Man]

Looks good on the shirt

http://www.canberra.edu.au/monitor/2...-rugby-success

[Burgs]

Consider it a target...

[shasta]

UC joins forces with Brumbies

Stands to reason. Their new squad sure looks a bunch of UC's.

[The InnFORCEr]

Stands to reason. Their new squad sure looks a bunch of UC's.

You mean Useless Canberan's

[mudskipper]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...px?storypage=0

ACT Brumbies coach Jake White wants to use a new alliance with the University of Canberra as the extra bait to lure South Africa's most talented juniors to the capital.

The Brumbies have boosted their immediate finances on the eve of the Super Rugby competition by announcing a one-year naming rights sponsorship with the University of Canberra, worth an estimated $1million.

But White, who guided South Africa to the 2007 World Cup, is determined to convert the relationship into a long-term gain for his playing roster.

White plans to capitalise on the strong connection between rugby and education in South Africa. As a former Springboks coach, he still holds a lot of influence on where South Africa's rising stars choose to play.

''I would love to attract some boys to come and play rugby in Australia,'' White said.

''Every day I get calls from dads [in South Africa] asking where I suggest their kid can play.

''It shouldn't be underestimated a lot of South Africans will see this link and see it as an opportunity [to come and try to play for the Brumbies].

''Our challenge is to make sure we at the Brumbies do our homework ... it can't just be a sponsorship arrangement, it has to be a genuine boost and partnership.''

When White signed a four-year deal to coach the Brumbies last May, he expressed his desire to recruit South African schoolboy stars and get them to train in the club's development programs.

Now he wants university delegates to travel with the Brumbies to South Africa in April and organise meetings with top young players.

White knows first hand how passionate South Africans are about rugby.

He has been coaching in schools since 1982 and high schools and universities have extremely strong allegiances to their rugby teams.

The Brumbies are allowed three foreign players on their roster - one marquee signing and two developing internationals. Dan Vickerman and Clyde Rathbone are two examples of South Africans who have played with the Brumbies and gone on to represent the Wallabies.

White said he would not try to influence young players to choose between committing to the Wallabies or Springboks, but he was confident South African junior stars could be enticed to join the Brumbies and the university.

''Nothing would hurt me more than to tell a South African dad to bring his kid here and he doesn't leave Canberra a better player,'' White said.

''I don't want these boys to come here and to be a Brumbies fan, I want him to come here with an opportunity to play for the Brumbies.

''There's no reason why it can't happen, I get excited because we're sitting on something great, but we can't just offer an opportunity to study.

''It's going to promote rugby in Canberra and increase the standard of rugby we have here.

''It won't happen in year one, but it will be sustainable for South African and New Zealand boys to come here and study.''

White warned the agreement needed to be more than ''lip service'' to ensure he could attract the best recruits and turn them into better players in Canberra.

The university will get maximum exposure in South Africa and New Zealand when the Super Rugby season begins on February 24.

Rugby is the No.1 sport in both countries and more than 4million viewers watched the Brumbies' games last season

Twenty-three per cent of the university's student population is from overseas, but only a small minority is from South Africa or New Zealand with most travelling from China and South East Asia.

The Brumbies could also move their base to the university campus in the coming years.

The club had its plans to redevelop Griffith Oval blocked on heritage grounds in 2010 and is currently awaiting a decision on its contentious application to rezone the site of its headquarters for redevelopment as apartments.

ETA Darwin friday... A new class of Brumby... .

[Rex Messup]

It's interesting seeing Australia's dumbest people with UC on the front

The Gillard Governments last stand

Why not waste a bit more of the public purse on rugby sponsorship?

The education industry sure has taken a hit since Indian students stopped coming to Australia

[Sheikh]

The Brumbies have boosted their immediate finances on the eve of the Super Rugby competition by announcing a one-year naming rights sponsorship with the University of Canberra, worth an estimated $1million.

The University of Canberra Brumbies?

[Burgs]

Brumbies-University Canberra Athletics maybe...

[bunter]

Looks like a gay soccer ball on the front of the jersey!