SPONSORSHIP IN CLUB RUGBY?

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33654, 2 October 1974, Page 14

SPONSORSHIP IN CLUB RUGBY?

Sponsorship might be introduced to the Christchurch senior Rugby competition next year. At its meeting last week the management committee of of the Canterbury union formed a small sub-com-mittee to look into the matter. Guidelines in regard to sponsorship have been laid down by the New Zealand union and what Canterbury has in mind is obtaining sponsors for its various championships. This would mean that the Harewood Trophy could be prefixed by the name of the sponsoring firm or its product. In return for this right, the union would probably ask the firm to contribute towards the costs of advertising matches. Having a shield bearing a trade name would be nothing new for the Can-

terbury union. The D.C.L. Shield, the oldest of the senior trophies, was named after a popular whisky. However, D.C.L. Whisky has been off the market for a number of years. The brand name was changed to King George IV and later to King George V. Although there will be an extra team, Hornby, in the senior grade next year, the format of the competition is unlikely to be changed. However, Mr J. G. Mullins suggested that it might be a good idea if the possibility of two sections of eight teams was looked at in the near future. He said that a higher standard of play would result if the stronger teams were to meet more often and that this would create greater spectator appeal.