Super League have announced they have secured a lucrative headline sponsorship deal for the next three seasons.
In a refreshing change from last season’s sponsor-less season, and the infamous Eddie Stobart deal before that, in which lorry-side advertising was swapped for the title, with no money changing hands, independent energy supplier First:Utility have laid down a rumoured £750,000 a year.
The company have a market share of around one per cent but are considered the largest outside of the leading six suppliers.
The Warwick-based company helps to minimise consumers’ energy bills through low-price tariffs and energy efficiency. It will have naming rights to the First:Utility Super League.
Super League Chief Executive Nigel Wood said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome First:Utility to the sport as the new title sponsors of the First Utility Super League.
“First:Utility is a real challenger brand that is shaking up the UK energy market and we look forward to working with them over the next three years.
“2014 will be a particularly exciting period in the commercial development of the sport: this announcement is the first in a series of agreements that will put in place a family of partners around the First:Utility Super League as we build on the legacy of the very successful Rugby League World Cup 2013.”
Ed Kamm, Chief Customer Officer at First:Utility said: “The Super League is passionately supported by millions of families in the UK who are the real stars of the game. In turn, we’re passionate about helping millions of families save on their energy bills.
“We think it’s a good fit. We are ambitious about challenging the status quo within the energy market and giving more consumers the low-price energy for which we’re known.
“As a fast growing alternative to the Big Six energy companies it felt right to partner with a growing sport to help build more awareness for our brand.
“We’re big fans of Rugby League and are proud to be part of the Super League community; together we hope we can be part of the growth of this exciting sport, as well as helping more people lower their energy bills.”