DHL will be Official Logistics Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, a partnership that will see the Stormers and WP sponsors assume responsibility for the logistics of the tournament.
The Rugby World Cup – one of the biggest international sporting events around, will take place in England over six weeks in September and October, 2015. The Webb Ellis Cup touched down in Cape Town yesterday as part of a whistle stop tour starting with a press briefing at The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum with some of SA’s most celebrated rugby legends including Joel Stransky, John Smit, Rob Brink, Krynouw Otto, Chris Rossouw, Marius Hurter, Grant Fox, Stefan Terblanche and Balie Swart.
“We are very excited to be joining forces once again with the IRB to deliver Rugby World Cup 2015,” said Hennie Heymans Managing Director of DHL Express South Africa. “DHL sees tremendous synergies between a sport that is built on teamwork, passion and a will to win. We are actively involved in Rugby the world over, and we will be working hard behind the scenes to support and match the world class performance that fans will surely be treated to on the pitch.”
RWC Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The reappointment of a globally renowned brand and a world leader in the logistics industry further underscores Rugby World Cup 2015’s considerable global prestige with the tournament’s commercial programme set to be finalized in record time.”
As Official Logistics Partner, DHL will be responsible for the transportation of Tournament and team equipment from around the world to the 13 match venues in England. The equipment to be transported will include, for example, an estimated 1,400 rugby balls, 200 kicking tees and 200 tackle bags.
From October 26 to October 30, 2013, DHL will also carry the 4.5kg Webb Ellis Cup on its global network between the four former holders of the Trophy: New Zealand (the current holder), Australia, South Africa and England. The journey will see the Trophy handed over by DHL and Cup Chaperone – legendary former New Zealand player Grant Fox – to former Rugby World Cup winning players from each country for a brief local celebration with fans, before it is then delivered to Dublin, Ireland for the inaugural IRB World Rugby Conference.
DHL was Official Logistics Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand, and was a naming rights sponsor of the recent 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia. The company also currently partners with Harlequins in England, the Stormers, the Irish Rugby Football Union and a number of tournaments within the IRB Sevens World Series. Other initiatives by DHL to support Rugby development around the world have included partnerships with Rugby Federations, tournaments, clubs and school programs as far afield as Fiji, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Romania, and Canada.
Rugby is the fastest growing sport in the world, played in over 100 countries. A total of 102 million global viewers watched the Final of Rugby World Cup 2011.