Gulf Air signs up with HSBC Waratahs

The sponsorship deal is a first for Gulf Air in Australia since commencing daily services to Sydney in November 2003.

"Gulf Air and the Waratahs are a perfect fit," said Gulf Air General Manager Australia and South Pacific Cramer Ball.

"The Waratahs are our first major Australian sports sponsorship and they have an enormous following both here and overseas.

"We are delighted to be the Waratahs' international airline partner for their development tour of the Middle East, Europe and Russia."

NSW Chief Executive Officer Fraser Neill said Gulf Air would play an important part in the development of the game.

"The partnership allows us to maintain our development programme, which includes the end of year tour," he said.

"Gulf Air will take us to the places we need to go to play competitive second tier countries. This will not only assist us in building a strong Super 14 squad, it will also improve the game in the regions we visit."

NSW head coach Ewen McKenzie, who will lead the 30-man squad, said the development tour strikes the right balance between Rugby and life experience.

"We came away from last year's tour of Argentina with a strong spirit and clear direction for the following season," he said.

"We developed the latest Wallabies like Al Kanaar and Lachlan MacKay as well as Super 12 rookies like Wycliff Palu. It also fostered the leadership skills of Adam Freier and Morgan Turinui. So the tour has very real benefits for Australian Rugby not just NSW."

The Gulf Air Development Tour will take the Waratahs through Bahrain on the way to Europe where a thriving rugby community exists.

"We will be very proud to showcase Gulf Air's award winning and legendary Arabian hospitality when the team travel to Bahrain and beyond," said Mr Ball.

"The growth of rugby internationally and in Australia, particularly with the new Super 14 competition, mirrors our growth and expansion in Australia and abroad."