- The house of English rugby shall be renamed the Allianz Stadium subsequent month
- Mail Sport revealed the deal shall be price round £100m to English rugby
- RFU chief govt Invoice Sweeney has defended the controversial determination
RFU chief govt Invoice Sweeney has defended the controversial determination to rename Twickenham to Allianz Stadium and insisted it was not one the governing physique took flippantly.
Mail Sport revealed the deal shall be price £100million to English rugby with the insurance coverage giants set to speculate £10m-a-year over the course of the subsequent decade.
However the transfer to completely take away the identify Twickenham from a venue with greater than a century of sporting historical past has been criticised in some quarters.
In a video message to RFU Council members, which has been seen by Mail Sport, Sweeney stated: ‘We absolutely perceive why there could also be some issues for the traditionalists.
‘They’ll query why we’re granting naming rights to a stadium as iconic as Twickenham.
The Rugby Soccer Union has taken the controversial determination to rename Twickenham
RFU chief govt Invoice Sweeney says it was a choice not taken flippantly however stated it can ‘generate a whole lot of funding’ and that it’s being executed for ‘all the precise causes’
‘It’s not an uncommon factor to do. There’s a number of examples of this taking place elsewhere. It’s one thing that’s been on our radar for fairly a while.
‘However we don’t take the topic of issuing naming rights for an iconic stadium like Twickenham flippantly, so it was vital for us to ensure it was the precise associate.
‘And with Allianz, we’ve received somebody who fulfill a whole lot of standards. They’re very enthusiastic about rugby. Their senior administration are avid followers of the sport.
‘They’ve received an actual dedication not simply to their branding on the stadium itself however to make use of their funding to inject that into the group and grassroots sport. It isn’t merely the naming rights of the stadium. There’s a variety of elements which make them a great associate.
‘Clearly it generates a whole lot of funding for us. The funds which might be being generated by granting these naming rights to Allianz are going to be spent in areas we need to spend money on as strategic priorities. For these individuals who love the sport regardless of possibly some preliminary issues, please perceive we’re doing this for all the precise causes.’
England’s 2003 World Cup-winning coach and columnist Sir Clive Woodward described the eradicating of the Twickenham identify as ‘an almighty blow’ and a ‘very unhappy and poignant day.’
However Newcastle boss Steve Diamond on Tuesday described the Allianz deal as ‘magnificent’, heralding the much-needed monetary impetus it can convey.
The cash from the Allianz deal will help English rugby at each the elite and grassroots ranges and the RFU has insisted the partnership shall be ‘transformative.’
The identify change to the Allianz Stadium shall be efficient from the beginning of subsequent month
Twickenham’s identify change to Allianz Stadium shall be efficient from September 1.
Sweeney has additionally indicated the Allianz deal will assist the RFU with their plans to redevelop Twickenham though the cash from the naming rights gained’t pay for that particularly.
No long-term plans to enhance the Twickenham infrastructure have been agreed as but.
Sweeney added: ‘Business companions are essential to permit us to speculate again into the sport. It’s been properly documented occasions are robust popping out of Covid.
‘It hasn’t been a simple journey with growing prices, rising inflation and the influence that’s had on us by way of our monetary challenges. It’s about how they (Allianz) may also help us with the redevelopment of the stadium.
‘It’s been properly documented that beginning in 2027, we’re going to be investing some huge cash within the upgrading of the Twickenham services. They’re strategic associate to assist us try this.’
