World Cup sponsorship known this week

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 25

World Cup sponsorship known this week

PA Wellington Important elements of the inaugural World Cup rugby tournament will be revealed in Sydney on Wednesday when sponsorship deals for the event, worth more than SUS 4 million ($7.12 million), will be announced.

The sponsorship will involve about five international companies and television networks with whom the World Cup marketing agent, West Nally, has recently concluded arrangements. Other sponsors for the event, which will begin on May 22, will be named later.

The tournament’s major sponsor — the company name by which the World Cup will be known — will be a Japanese company with no product or brand image in either of the host countries, New Zealand and Australia.

The sponsorship announcement will be made by John KendallCarpenter, the chairman of the International Rugby Board’s World Cup Committee.

It will end speculation, much of which has centred on the late date at which such details are being finalised. Mr Kendall-Carpenter

will also introduce Australia and New Zealand to the tournament’s offical mascot, “Drop.” Developed in France, “Drop” is an over-sized rugby ball with arms, legs and a happy face which will become familiar as an adornment on a variety of World Cup souvenirs in the months ahead.

"Drop” has already been shown to the rugby public in France at Five Nations matches in recent weeks. After his introduction in Sydney on Wednesday, “Drop” will cross the Tasman and begin a New Zealand tour the next day.

He will visit every New Zealand World Cup venue during late March and early April.

The New Zealand chief executive of West Nally, Malcolm Beattie, also announced yesterday that a merchandising campaign for the World Cup will start on March 20. From that date, a full range of World Cup souvenirs will be available nation wide. These include sweat shirts, Tshirts, key rings, beer mugs and pottery.

Mr Beattie said the range of products on sale would be twice that of New Zealand’s America’s Cup campaign. Souvenir World Cup jerseys, which were launched last month, will be available to the public within a week, and a major national retail clothing chain will have an exclusive merchandising contract for official World Cup clothing. A $250,000 campaign advertising the World Cup will also start on March 23.