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Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark<\/strong> said: \u201cEmirates has a long history of supporting rugby, dating back to our early days as an airline. Since then, we\u2019ve deepened our presence within the sport across every level, from supporting global organisations and tournaments like World Rugby, five consecutive Rugby World Cups, and the global 7s series to headlining the Emirates Dubai 7s and growing the footprint of the UAE Rugby Federation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re particularly proud to extend our support to Asia Rugby to take the sport into new markets and boost its appeal, as well as open untapped possibilities for younger athletes to develop their skills and realise their full potential. And this is just the start. We will continue harnessing the power of grassroots sporting activities that forge strong bonds with the communities we serve to contribute meaningfully to their growth and resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asia Rugby President, His Excellency Qais Al-Dhalai<\/strong> said: \u201cI am delighted to welcome Emirates as the Title Sponsor of Asia Rugby. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the reach and impact of rugby across our 36 members and across Asia. With Emirates’ support, we are poised to bring the excitement and values of rugby to a new generation of athletes and fans. Our growing reputation for reliability, credibility and professionalism has given Emirates the confidence to associate their brand with ours. With the UAE serving as the headquarters of Asia Rugby, this partnership with Emirates feels like a perfect synergy. The UAE has become a centre for rugby activities, providing a strategic base to coordinate and grow the sport across the continent. Emirates is synonymous with premier rugby events globally, and this collaboration is set to elevate the sport’s profile across Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He continued: \u201cIn the last five years, we have established Asia Rugby as a brand with more tournaments and increased our social media reach with all our events live-streamed to bring rugby to Asia. Our shared goal is to empower athletes, build a robust talent pipeline, and cultivate a passionate fanbase to sustain the sport for years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As part of the agreement, the airline will be the title sponsor across Asia Rugby competitions and tournaments, including the Asia Rugby Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Championships, the Asia Rugby Sevens Series and age-grade competitions cutting across several age groups. These tournaments offer a pathway to premier regional and global competitions such as the Rugby World Cup, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Olympic Games, the Asian Games, the HSBC SVNS Series, and the World Rugby Sevens Challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The airline\u2019s iconic \u2018Fly Better\u2019 branding will appear on match official jerseys, match balls, support staff bibs, post pads, and stadium branding, among other benefits, for 21 different tournaments over the span of three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of more than 20 tournaments where Emirates will have a strong presence is the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Round 2, set to begin on 21 September 2024 in Hangzhou, China. The tournament will feature the top eight men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams fighting for ranking spots for the final round, which will be played in Bangkok, Thailand, in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n