Emirates Airline becomes first worldwide partner of Rugby World Cup 2011

Emirates will be the official airline for the tournament, which will be held for the first time in New Zealand since the inaugural event 1987, a country served by Emirates with 28 flights a week.

Gary Chapman, Emirates' President Group Services, represented the airline at the news conference in Auckland on Friday to announce this major new sponsorship.

Mr Chapman said:

"Building on the success of our relationship with Rugby World Cup 2007, we are excited to make this commitment to the sport of rugby by becoming the first Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011."

Mr Chapman added, "Emirates has always had a great affinity with rugby through our sponsorships of the Sevens game and the England and Samoan Sevens squads. Emirates is currently building a state of the art rugby venue in Dubai which will host the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009, of which Emirates is the Principal Partner."

"Emirates is one of the leading sponsors of sport around the world and we are now a sponsor of three important world cups, with Rugby World Cup 2011, FIFA World Cup 2010 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. In 2007 Emirates was the main sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand's challenge in the 32nd America's Cup," he added.

"Through our expanding network in six continents, Emirates will be able to offer an easy route for rugby fans around the world to travel to New Zealand via Dubai. We are looking forward to working closely with the IRB and the Rugby New Zealand 2011 Tournament Organisers to ensure the success of Rugby World Cup 2011," Mr Chapman concluded.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark welcomed today's announcement, saying: "This is a significant milestone for Rugby World Cup 2011. Securing such a high-profile and respected sponsor is a major step for the tournament and will help New Zealand put on the best world cup yet."

Rugby World Cup Chairman, Bernard Lapasset, said, "We are delighted to have the renowned international aviation company Emirates Airline on board as a global partner for Rugby World Cup 2011. The tournament is now one of the largest sporting events in the world and its prestige is clearly highlighted by the involvement of blue chip companies such as Emirates."

Lapasset said, "Furthermore, it is pleasing that we will be in partnership with a company that has a long-standing history of supporting the game. Emirates is the official sponsor of the IRB international match officials and it was an official Tournament Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2007 in France. For 2011 the company has strengthened its commitment to the Tournament by becoming a Worldwide Partner."

"Emirates Airline's commitment to Rugby is also evident from its existing sponsorship programmes that include the London, Edinburgh, George and Dubai Sevens tournaments - which are part of the IRB Sevens World Series. It is also the team sponsor of the Samoa and England National Sevens teams, and Australian Super 14 team Emirates Western Force," he added.

"We look forward to continuing our productive and enjoyable working relationship with Emirates Airline in the years ahead," Lapasset concluded.