KIA to drive Royal Rugby as Sole Team Sponsor of 1st XV

Iconic Korean car brand KIA has come forward to support schools rugby in Sri Lanka, as Sole Team Sponsor of the Royal College First XV Rugby Team in 2012.

The sponsorship gives KIA branding rights for the rugby jerseys of the senior rugby players of Royal College in all interschool games and tournaments of the rugby season.

Kia Motors (Lanka) Managing Director Mahen Thambiah (third from right) presents a Rugby Jersey to the Principal of Royal College Upali Gunasekara. Others from left are Kia Motors (Lanka) Director J.M Swaminathan and Chairman Ajit Jayaratne, Royal Rugby Advisory Chairman Jehan CanagaRetna and member Ajita Pasqual

The sponsorship agreement was formalised at Royal College on Wednesday, 18 April with the participation of directors of KIA Motors (Lanka) Limited and senior officials of Royal College Rugby.

Commenting on the company’s decision to sponsor the Royal College Rugby Team, KIA Motors (Lanka) Managing Director Mahen Thambiah said: “KIA is associated globally with sport, and we are happy to extend this involvement to Sri Lanka by partnering Royal College Rugby. Our support will contribute tangibly to the development of facilities for the players, and we are excited at the prospect of helping the team build on its performance.”

 “KIA is perceived around the world as young, sporty and friendly, and we believe that this sponsorship is a perfect fit,” he said.

On the world stage, KIA is an official partner of FIFA until 2022 and is the sponsor of the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine as well as the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. KIA has also sponsored the Australian Open tennis tournament for 10 years consecutively, and appointed top-ranked player Rafael Nadal as Global Brand Ambassador.

In January 2011 KIA announced a five-year deal for exclusive naming rights to the historic Oval ground and to become the primary shirt sponsor of Surrey County Cricket Club. The brand also supports many other sports with involvements ranging from Shirt Sponsorships at Athletico Madrid in Spain and Girondins de Bordeaux in France to the 2011 X Games in Shanghai.

KIA Motors (Lanka) Limited, has represented the KIA brand in Sri Lanka since 1995.