The online betting and gaming company has followed its title sponsorship of the Middlesex Sevens earlier this month with confirmation this week that it has secured a ground-breaking sponsorship deal that involves branding on the reverse of all the Guinness Premiership clubs’ playing shirts. The branding will be incorporated as part of the number patch, providing a link between numbers, statistics and betting.

Part of the sponsorship Coral.co.uk has committed to is a comprehensive programme of activity that will benefit the twelve Guinness Premiership clubs through a donation “bounce back” scheme which directly rewards clubs when their supporters open an account with the company; data sharing and through innovative bets that involve financial rewards for clubs.  In addition, there will be a celebrity supporter betting challenge through which clubs can raise money for their development programmes.

Matt Dawson, the former London Wasps, Northampton Saints and scrum half, will play a key role in the sponsorship. He has signed as the Coral.co.uk ambassador and will host a number of poker nights for club supporters around the country. 

Coral.co.uk plans to involve players and supporters in a number of tests and fun activities, details of which will be announced as the season unfolds.

The company will offer a full range of betting opportunities on the Guinness Premiership including innovative bets such as the Coral.co.uk 'Pick 6' bet, which allows rugby fans to predict the outcome of each game within each round of fixtures.  In addition, there will be markets on each week’s round of matches and on the performances of individual players - as well as some fun bets! 

Dominic Harrison, E-Commerce Managing Director of Coral said: “This sponsorship is truly exciting for us as it is the first time we have become involved with a sport outside our traditional racing environment for some time.  The sport of rugby union has real momentum at present and we are looking forward to contributing to that especially at club level. We intend to be pro-active and get involved with clubs and their supporters across the season.”    

The company has developed a dedicated rugby website at www.coral.co.uk/rugby where all can log on and explore a comprehensive statistical database on ten years of professional rugby as well as up to the minute betting information.