World Rugby and DHL have announced the renewal of the world’s leading express and logistics provider as a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.
 
DHL is a major supporter of rugby worldwide, including sponsorship of the men’s and women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, and the logistics giant has again secured the designation of Official Logistics Partner for Japan 2019, the first Rugby World Cup in Asia.
 
The partnership extends DHL’s association with rugby’s showcase event to three editions and ensures that the inventory of six Rugby World Cup 2019 Worldwide Partners is on track to be completed in record time, underscoring the prestige of one of the world’s biggest and best-loved sports events in the global commercial marketplace. 
 
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “We are delighted to be extending our long-standing and highly-successful partnership with DHL, the express and logistics global leader. More than a commercial partner, DHL is a world-class logistics operator, and in an event where success hinges on the details, we know that we have an outstanding partner.
 
“DHL’s renewal accelerates us towards completion of our inventory of six world-class Worldwide Partners for Rugby World Cup 2019 in record time and with record financial value, underscoring the strength of the event in the global marketplace and delivering a result that is ultimately great for the development of rugby worldwide."
 
DHL Express CEO Ken Allen added: “We are very excited to be continuing our longstanding, successful partnership with rugby, including again being involved in the premier event of such a dynamically growing sport. We are also thrilled that it is breaking new ground in Japan, a country with the fourth largest population of rugby players and with great potential to inspire a new generation of rugby fans with its performances both on and off the pitch.
 
“DHL has operated in Japan for 45 years and has built up an unrivalled network in the country. We can’t wait to share all the passion and enjoyment that rugby embodies with our customers, employees and the broader rugby family in Japan and around the world over the next two and a half years.”
 
The partnership between DHL and Rugby World Cup 2019 continues a long-standing relationship between DHL and rugby. As the Official Logistics Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, DHL was responsible for the transportation of tournament and team equipment from around the world to England. DHL delivered over 48 tons of team freight, 1,400 official match balls, and 20 sets of uprights to the 13 match venues, and also delivered over 400,000 tickets to more than 160 countries.
 
Alongside its support for previous Rugby World Cup tournaments, the company also currently partners with the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby Canada, the Irish Rugby Football Union, the German Rugby Union, Harlequins in England and the DHL Stormers in South Africa, among other grassroots support for local clubs in many locations around the world. The support ranges from logistics services, sponsorship, coaching clinics with DHL ambassadors and in-kind volunteering support from DHL employees, who commit their time to run community programmes and help with administering clubs.