BACKING THE SCARLETS FUTURE

TWO MAJOR CARMARTHENSHIRE BUSINESSES LINK TO CHAMPION RUGBY

The Scarlets will revealed their striking new kit for next season tonight (thurs) together with the announcement that two well-established Carmarthenshire businesses will be backing the region as main sponsors.

WRW and Dyfed Steels, who are long-serving and committed supporters of the famous rugby region have agreed an innovative joint sponsorship deal for the forthcoming season which will see them both appear on the home and the away kit. WRW will appear on the front of the new home shirt and back of the away shirt and Dyfed Steels, in reverse, will appear on the front of the new away shirt and back of the home kit.

Both are well-established businesses in the region and have backed the Scarlets for more than two decades between them.  The new sponsorship agreement with two Carmarthenshire based businesses is testimony to their long-term commitment shown by the Scarlets and its major commercial partners to invest in the future of the local community.

WRW is celebrating 25 years in business and is one of the leading construction and development companies in Mid and South Wales working in a wide-range of sectors including education, healthcare, heritage, retail commercial and leisure. Known and respected for its high quality and innovative construction projects, WRW has expanded a sustainable business within a culture that mirrors the Scarlets values of the family, Welsh culture, ethics and integrity.         

Chairman Robert Williams of WRW, a sponsor of the Scarlets for six consecutive years, said:  “The reality is that these are challenging economic times and most businesses have been feeling the pinch in recent years. However, our long-term commitment to our community is shown in our support of one of the highest profile sports businesses in Wales and the leading exponent of all that is great about our area – the Scarlets.

“The Scarlets are at the heart of this community and have been a source of great hope, enjoyment and pride to so many for decades. We want to be part of the Scarlets success going forward and will back the region during a key time in its transition and development.

“We continue to be immensely proud to be a major sponsor and what the region is doing to develop and promote the best Welsh talent from within is close to our hearts and represents the pride we have in our people, our rugby team and the communities we serve in this area.

“It is a equally a privilege to share the responsibility and commitment to this great rugby region with a like-minded, respected and community-spirited business in Dyfed Steels.”

Dyfed Steels, with Head Office in Dafen, Llanelli is Wales and the West’s largest independent steel stockholder and processor and is one of the most well-established and successful businesses in the Carmarthenshire. It has expanded year-on-year, has a turnover of £60m and employs 260 people at its nine depots throughout Wales with newly opened outlets in Colchester and Bramford in the Midlands.

Formed more than 30 years ago by Managing Director and owner, David Thomas, the company continues to invest in and provide support within its local communities and has been working in partnership with the Scarlets for more than 20 years and is the region’s longest-standing sponsor.

David Thomas, Managing Director of Dyfed Steels said:  “The Scarlets are the flag-bearers for this area and represent so many great values that we are proud to have been associated with for more than 20 years.  These are exciting times for the Scarlets as they start to see the results of their hard-work and commitment to develop great emerging Welsh talent from within our region, and we wish them all the best this season.”

Scarlets Commercial Director, Rupert Moon said:  “We are delighted to announce this innovative and close-working partnership between our two main sponsors who continue to help champion the Scarlets cause during a tough economic climate.    We are grateful for their continued support and for being a key part of our growing Scarlets family.

“This is a great example of our commitment to work closely with partners in the region for the development and promotion of local people and talent and to keep a strong sense of community at our core, in all that we do both on and off the field.”

The sponsorship announcement follows shortly after the Scarlets revealed they have signed a record six-figure kit deal for the next four years with fast-emerging Swiss brand Burrda.

Burrda is a well-established sportswear supplier in the Middle East and is now expanding worldwide. The company has signed kit deals for the coming season with rugby’s Northampton Saints and football’s Premier League club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City and Watford and is the official supplier to the British Handball Association and several national football associations.

The new deal sees Burrda provide the Scarlets will all its official match day playing kit as well as all training clothing collections and other off-field apparel for the region’s Magners League, Heineken Cup and LV=Cup fixtures.

The Scarlets are only the second European club to secure a major deal with the fast-growing supplier as they introduce a brand new high quality rugby union kit range.

The innovative and eye-catching home and away kits for 2010/11 will be unveiled tonight for the first time at Parc y Scarlets at a FREE supporters event from 6pm – 9pm with entertainment for all the family to enjoy, plenty of refreshments and a fashion show with Scarlets players modeling the new kit.