Kenya Breweries has pumped KES.115 Million into Kenya Rugby Union to promote the sport as its flagship brand, Tusker.
The announcement is the latest chapter in the brand’s long history with the sport of rugby, which dates back to the early 1990s when Tusker Lager first took up title sponsorship of the Safari Sevens.
From this investment, Kshs. 37.5 Million will go into supporting the Kenya
Rugby Union in all its activities, including the men’s and women’s national
Sevens and Fifteens teams. The brand’s investment will also go into rugby clubs
across the country as well as universities in an effort to grow and nurture
rugby talent in Kenya.
Speaking at the launch ceremony KBL Managing Director Jane Karuku, expressed
the company’s delight in announcing this investment in the sport.
“On behalf the Kenya Breweries Limited, we are delighted to announce this
investment in the sport of rugby in the country. Ours is not just an
investment, it is also a deep commitment to continue growing and developing the
sport of rugby in the country with both the present and the future in mind,”
she added.
This announcement comes at an opportune time for Kenyan rugby, as the Sevens
teams kick off preparations for the Olympic qualifiers to be held later in the
year.
Mrs. Karuku also mentioned that part of the investment will go into ensuring
that this year’s edition of the Safari Sevens will return the tournament to its
former glories.
“We want to see the Safari sevens this year, getting back to its former glory,
when it was the Tusker Safari sevens that is why we have also set a side part
of our investment to ensure that we achieve this,” she said.
Speaking at the same event the EABL Marketing & Innovation Director Graham
Villiers-Tuthill, reiterated the company’s commitment towards turning rugby
into a professional sport in the country.
“We have walked with Kenya rugby through all these years and today marks yet
another chapter in our journey to seeing Kenya become a professional rugby
playing nation.”
On his part the Kenya Rugby Union Chairman, Mr. Oduor Gangla “Tusker has been associated with the Safari Sevens in different capacities for over twenty years, as the Title Sponsor and as the Official Alcoholic Beverage partner. It is very reassuring to see them continue to support this event.”
“It promises to be a great march forward for players and fans and we thank
Tusker for their continued belief and support of the Kenya Rugby Union,” Gangla
concluded.
Mrs. Karuku concluded by assuring fans of a great experience every time they
attend a rugby match saying “fans can always expect a great experience at rugby
matches courtesy of Tusker Lager.”
After a successful national sevens series, rugby action moves to Nakuru, on the
21st of September, where the Kenya Simbas will host Zimbabwe in their last
fixture of the 2019 Victoria Cup, with the Safari Sevens slated for the 18th to
20th of October