Dentsu Acquires Rugby World Cup 2019 Sponsorship Sales Rights

World Rugby has announced that advertising and marketing giant Dentsu has acquired a substantial package of official sponsor and supplier rights for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

A partner of the Japan Rugby Football Union and Japan Rugby 2019 organising committee, Dentsu is a committed supporter of rugby in Asia, one of the game's fastest-growing markets.

The innovative agreement was made in conjunction with IMG, World Rugby's commercial sales agent for Rugby World Cup 2019, which is responsible for sales and delivery of commercial rights for what is one of the world's best-loved and most successful major sports events.

The agreement will enable IMG and World Rugby to complete worldwide top-tier commercial partner agreements, broadcast, licencing and hospitality rights, while enabling Dentsu to attract sponsor and supplier-level partners within a market where major Japanese organisations are keen to support and associate with the biggest sports event to be hosted in Japan in more than a decade.

World Rugby Head of Commercial, Broadcast and Marketing Murray Barnett said: "World Rugby and IMG are delighted to be partnering with Dentsu on attracting Japanese commercial partners for Rugby World Cup 2019, the first Rugby World Cup in Asia.

"This deal reflects the strong commercial interest within Japan and across Asia. Dentsu's unparalleled knowledge of the Japanese market will enable Rugby World Cup 2019 reach and harness interest from top Japanese multinationals while maximising promotion of the tournament across the host nation."

Rugby World Cup 2015 in England was the biggest and most successful Rugby World Cup to date, delivering record levels of competitiveness, attendance, broadcast viewership, fan engagement, economic impact and commercial revenues to ensure an unprecedented legacy for global rugby development.

As the first Rugby World Cup in Asia, Japan 2019 is on track to be a ground-breaking global celebration of rugby and the host nation, driving the growth of the sport across Asia. Hosted between 20 September and 2 November, 12 cities the length and breadth of Japan will welcome an anticipated 400,000 international visitors and estimated £2 billion in additional economic output.

For more information, please contact:

JAMES FITZGERALD

Media Manager, World Rugby

Tel: +353-1-240-9237 / +353-86-1723-570

Email: james.fitzgerald@worldrugby.org

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