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SPONSOR NEWS
DELOITTE BECOMES PRINCIPAL
SPONSOR OF ULSTER WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM
Deloitte has announced an exciting new two-year sponsorship agreement with
Ulster Rugby to become the lead sponsor of the Ulster Women’s Rugby team.
The Irish Rugby Football Union has set ambition
targets to help grow participation in the women’s
game across Ireland, with numbers already
increasing in Ulster over recent years following the
introduction of an Ulster Girls Schools Cup.
A number of players from the Ulster Women’s Rugby
team have represented Ireland in the Six Nations
tournament and are part of the Irish squad for the
Women’s Rugby World Cup – the final of which will
take at the Kingspan Stadium this month.
Jackie Henry, Senior Partner at Deloitte, said the
sponsorship deal is in keeping with Deloitte’s strong
track record of supporting sport at all levels.
“Deloitte is delighted to be the new sponsor of the
Ulster Women’s Rugby team. Female participation
in the sport has grown significantly in the past few
years and this partnership will help promote women’s
rugby to a wider audience.
“This has been a great year for women’s sport in
Ireland, with the Women’s Rugby World Cup final
soon to be played here in Belfast, and we felt the
time was right for Deloitte to throw its support behind
the women’s game. Diversity is one of Deloitte’s core
values and we are committed to playing our part
in helping to raise the profile of women’s sport and
helping to get more women and girls to take part.”
Deloitte was a major sponsor in the London 2012
Olympics and has played a major role in Ireland’s
bid to host the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2023. The
company has also demonstrated its commitment
to gender equality by implementing an inclusive
leadership culture founded on fairness and respect
that has seen the firm set a target of having a 30 per
cent female leadership by 2020.
Barry Willis, Rugby Operations Manager at Ulster
Rugby, said: “At such an exciting time for Women’s
Rugby in Ulster & Ireland, it is welcome and fitting
that we will have such a prestigious company as the
title sponsor of the Ulster Rugby Women’s team.
“With the backing of Deloitte, we will continue to
support our top female players and provide further
and better opportunities for women and girls to excel
in the game.”
Pictured are Jackie Henry, Senior Partner at Deloitte NI and Ulster Rugby players Peita McAlister,
Claire Johnston, Brittany Hogan and Hannah Beattie.