Northampton Saints today announced a “significant” three-year shirt sponsorship with the University of Northampton, just days after the uni announced a similar deal with the Cobblers.
The agreement will see the University of Northampton’s logo displayed on the Saints’ playing shirts for the next three full seasons, starting with this Saturday’s Aviva Premiership clash with arch-rivals Leicester Tigers.
Neither side would today confirm the exact financial worth of the deal which will see the university’s logo emblazoned on the back of the shirts below the squad number.
According to Saints chief executive Allan Robson, however, the deal will go a lot further than simply a logo with the University looking to build a “long-term and sustainable partnership” with Franklin’s Gardens.
He said: “We have put together an agreement with the University of Northampton that we genuinely believe will have a significant impact not only throughout our region and not just within rugby either. Obviously this partnership agreement will have a positive impact on the club. But the benefits will work in both ways, not least because we are able to offer valuable work experience, internship and project opportunities for students across a wide range of departments that will enhance their career prospects once they graduate.
“We are particularly delighted with how the University of Northampton will be supporting and enhancing our community programmes that use rugby to engage with, motivate and inspire tens of thousands of young people across Northamptonshire and beyond.
“And as the countdown to the 2015 World Cup continues the club will have a superb opportunity to take the name of the University of Northampton to a new audience who will play an important role in continuing the recent growth of rugby as a whole and the Aviva Premiership in particular, as Saints’ matches continue to be broadcast on live TV across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, North America and, of course, the southern hemisphere.
“Everyone at Franklin’s Gardens is very excited by this new partnership and we’re looking forward to working closely together and entrenching our relationship over the coming years.”
The University of Northampton has nearly 15,000 students and is about to embark on a multi-million pound investment, developing a new campus within the town’s Enterprise Zone placing the University at the heart of the community.
Vice-chancellor of the university, Nick Petford, said: “I’m very pleased the University has partnered with Northampton Saints. The University of Northampton is proud to be England’s number one university for employability in 2012, and this partnership will further develop our ability to offer our students unique opportunities for work placements, volunteering opportunities and internships, not only in the field of sports management, but with the other areas involved in running a successful Premiership Rugby team.”
Last week the university agreed a three-year shirt deal with promotion-pushing Northampton Town which is understood to have exceeded the £300,000 agreement signed with estate agency, Jackson Grundy.