Fans of Japanese consumer electronics and gritty Northern Hemisphere rugby union rejoice! Toshiba has confirmed it is packing in to the scrum, joining the maul from the side and taking the 3 as a sponsor of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
This is the third edition of Rugby-Mania that Toshiba has supported and it comes on the back of a very successful stint as a partner of the 2015 Asian Cup, won gloriously by the Socceroos.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup is being held in England (and Wales, though not in an co-hosting capacity) from 18 September through 31 October 2015, with 20 nations playing 48 matches in 13 stadia, including famous locales like Twickenham, Elland Road, St James’ Park, Wembley and Old Trafford. Toshiba joins other official partners including Emirates, Heineken, Land Rover, DHL, MasterCard, Societe Generale.
While the Wallabies are sponsored by rival brand Samsung, the Rugby World Cup has onerous rules preventing participating nations from spruiking their own sponsors, meaning Toshiba should have clear air to promote its wares.
Globally, Toshiba is delighted!
“Toshiba is delighted to be continuing its successful partnership with the Rugby World Cup,” said Noriaki Hashimoto, corporate vice president and corporate representative – EMEA, Toshiba Corporation. “The tournament is one of the world’s greatest sporting events and we’re looking forward to playing our part in bringing the power and the passion of the games to a bigger audience than ever before.”
Locally, Toshiba Australia is proud!
“Toshiba is once again sponsoring the Rugby World Cup, which, for Australasia, is a very special event,” said Toshiba (Australia) managing director Mark Whittard. “Australians and New Zealanders have a long and proud heritage in rugby and this sponsorship will connect us to fans in the region.”
Toshiba’s sponsorship covers all areas of its business — that is, it’s not restricted to being simply, say, the TV sponsor — and elements will include social infrastructure, air conditioning, multi-functional printers, digital products and medical imaging devices. Toshiba will also be supplying products to World Rugby (nee IRB) to assist in the staging of the tournament.
“Toshiba is a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology and with the expanded reach of Rugby World Cup; we are working together to reach people wherever and whenever they are watching, talking about or playing rugby,” said Murray Barnett, head of commercial, broadcast and marketing for the 2015 Rugby World Cup organising committee.
Australia’s Pool A opponents for the 2015 World Cup are England, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay.
Interestingly, the 2019 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be held in Toshiba’s homeland, Japan, meaning a fourth quadrennium of sponsorship is highly likely.