Stobart Super League it is.

[Highway1]

http://www.superleague.co.uk/article/stobart-sponsor-super-league/24220

Fantastic News for Rugby League in the UK and possibly France.
It was a battle between Stobart, Betfair and Probiz, with Stobart being trumps over Betfair who (with the RFL) went as far as registering a domain name after Stobart did.

Stobart cutting ties with motorsport (notably WRC) and getting heavily involved with Widnes Vikings went a long way towards getting a title deal with Super League.

Hopefully Super League gets a sponsorship portfolio/system similar to that seen with soccer's UEFA Champions League which means a lot money rolling in.

Fantastic!

Friday 20th January 12
Stobart sponsor Super League

Super League will be sponsored by nationwide logistics company Stobart in 2012, the Rugby Football League have announced.



Super League will be sponsored by nationwide logistics company Stobart in 2012, the Rugby Football League have announced.



Stobart, who are the principal shirt sponsors of Super League newcomers Widnes Vikings and have naming rights to their Halton Stadium, are taking over from Engage Mutual Assurance, who called a halt to their seven-year sponsorship of the game’s elite competition at the end of last season.

A statement from the governing body said: “The RFL confirms that Stobart Group has today agreed heads of terms to secure title naming rights to Rugby League’s Super League.”

The RFL have not divulged the length of the contract but say details of the new partnership will be unveiled at a news conference next Wednesday.

The new Super League season starts on Friday, February 3, when Widnes host Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Leeds Rhinos launch the defence of their title against Hull KR.

 

[deluded pom?]

If you ask anyone in the UK to name a haulage/logistics company then Stobart will be in the top two.

 

[pcpp]

Seems like a good brand to be associated with, but theres a few rumblings that this is a poor deal for the RFL in monetary terms, and it's being used to get nationwide exposure and to attract other sponsors.

From Martyn Sadler, the RL Express editor on Twitter:

The RFL is hoping that a 'brand' like Stobart will attract other major brands into #rugbyleague. I hope it's not just an article of faith.

Is Stobart going to be good for Super League? I hope so, because they have got a remarkable deal. Betfair edged out #rugbyleague

 

[roughyedspud]

If you ask anyone in the UK to name a haulage/logistics company then Stobart will be in the top two.

theres 2? lol


to be honest though i'd have gone with betfair.....it sounds better imo

 

[juanfarkall]

http://www.clubstobart.co.uk/

 

[roughyedspud]

erm no thanks...i see the bastards 3 times a day already

 

[ninearches]

Seems to me to be an excellent way of spreading the rugby league gospel into the heathen parts of the UK , hopefully it will attract a bigger audience to our wonderful game !

 

[pcpp]

So it's been confirmed that the RFL are recieving nothing in cash for this deal, but get sponsored on 100 of their 2,250 trucks :|

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/16729988.stm

I'm very underwhelmed to say the least.

 

[roughyedspud]

its very strange....i bet too that them 100 trucks are all going to come out of the widnes depot meaning a vast majority of the trucks are gonna be running around the RL heartlands....

im led to believe that betfair was offering close to a million a season cash!


now call me sensible if you want but in the current financial hardships...you take the cash over a free deal that might generate x amount........don't you??? i would anyway

 

[deluded pom?]

I believe the SL clubs get to choose which route their logo clad lorry goes on so if they just want one that tootles up and down the M62 then that's what they'll get.

 

[roughyedspud]

talking to a stobart driver last night and he did'nt have a clue what i was on about lol

 

[deluded pom?]

Are you fluent in Polish 'spud? ;-)

 

[roughyedspud]

he was a scouser...so he might as well have been speaking polish lol

 

[ninearches]

In the interview last week on sportinglife the bloke from Stobarts was suggesting that players might like to become employees of the company at the end of their playing days...bet they can't wait !