Australia
Visa presents its Visa Rugby Legends programme for the Rugby World Cup 2007
Paris, 16 November 2006
Visa Rugby Legends choose Nelson Mandela’s appearance at the Rugby World Cup 1995 Final as the Most Defining Moment in the tournament’s history
Visa International today announced that five of the world’s greatest rugby players – Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand ), John Eales (Australia ), Martin Johnson (England ), Philippe Sella (France ) and Joel Stransky (South Africa
“These five rugby greats truly represent the passion and spirit of the game of rugby. They connect with fans everywhere who have witnessed their athletic skill, their ability to transcend the game, and their unique sportsmanship at the highest level of the sport – the Rugby World Cup,” said Tom Shepard, executive vice president, International Marketing, Partnerships and Sponsorship, Visa International. “Their leadership, vision, relevance and excellence on and off the pitch, are all equities that are embodied in the Visa organisation. Working with us, they also will be able to share their insight, passion and beliefs with rugby fans worldwide.”
The Rugby World Cup sponsorship provides Visa with a major global marketing platform, reaching some of its most important markets around the world. As spokespersons for Visa, the Visa Rugby Legends will be visible in a number of Visa merchant and cardholder promotions. Each of the Visa Rugby Legends also will be featured in a number of promotional programmes, including communications to Visa’s 20,000 member financial institutions, advertisements and television commercials.
The Visa Rugby Legends will be featured in a number of online activities in which rugby fans can interact. These will include an online debate forum in which the Visa Rugby Legends will pose specific topics of interest to the rugby community inviting fans to engage and participate.
“These five rugby greats truly represent the passion and spirit of the game of rugby. They connect with fans everywhere who have witnessed their athletic skill, their ability to transcend the game, and their unique sportsmanship at the highest level of the sport – the Rugby World Cup,” said Tom Shepard, executive vice president, International Marketing, Partnerships and Sponsorship, Visa International. “Their leadership, vision, relevance and excellence on and off the pitch, are all equities that are embodied in the Visa organisation. Working with us, they also will be able to share their insight, passion and beliefs with rugby fans worldwide.”
The Rugby World Cup sponsorship provides Visa with a major global marketing platform, reaching some of its most important markets around the world. As spokespersons for Visa, the Visa Rugby Legends will be visible in a number of Visa merchant and cardholder promotions. Each of the Visa Rugby Legends also will be featured in a number of promotional programmes, including communications to Visa’s 20,000 member financial institutions, advertisements and television commercials.
The Visa Rugby Legends will be featured in a number of online activities in which rugby fans can interact. These will include an online debate forum in which the Visa Rugby Legends will pose specific topics of interest to the rugby community inviting fans to engage and participate.
During the launch in
That moment symbolised how sport can rise above all adversities and unite communities. Nelson Mandela’s presence helped unify a newly emerging democratic nation and raised the profile of the Rugby World Cup around the globe. As Joel Stransky explained, “The Rugby World Cup 1995 was much more than a rugby tournament to
That thought was echoed by John Eales who noted, “Every moment paled into insignificance when Mandela came in wearing a Springbok jersey and with
Amassing a massive 361 international caps between them, 61 of them achieved at 13 Rugby World Cup tournament appearances, all five of Visa’s Rugby Legends have considerable Rugby World Cup experience; and over the next few months they will be featured in special television webcast and podcast programming in which they will discuss some of their own most treasured Rugby World Cup moments and the highlights from the previous Rugby World Cup tournaments.
Zinzan Brooke was a member of the victorious All Black (
John Eales captained
Former
Philippe Sella made 111 appearances for
Joel Stransky kicked
Visa will work with the Visa Rugby Legends to tap into the passion and spirit of rugby to deliver unique, highly visible, business opportunities to its members and their merchants around the world, and provide added benefits to their Visa cardholders.
Visa sponsored Rugby World Cup 1995 on a regional basis and since then has been the global sponsor of RWC 1999 and RWC 2003.
Zinzan Brooke Biography John Eales Biography Martin Johnson Biography Philippe Sella Biography Joel Stransky BiographyMedia Contacts
Michael Sherman
Visa International San Francisco
sherman@visa.com
Sabine Middlemass
Visa International San Francisco
smiddlem@visa.com
Roz Barder
Visa International London
rbarder@visa.com
About Visa
Visa connects cardholders, merchants and financial institutions through the world’s largest electronic payments network. Visa products allow buyers and sellers to conduct commerce with ease and confidence in both the physical and virtual worlds. Visa is committed to the sustained growth of electronic payment systems to support the needs of all stakeholders and to drive economic growth. Visa products currently generate more than $4 trillion in sales volume worldwide. Visa has unsurpassed acceptance at more than 24 million locations worldwide including one million ATMs.For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
