Two of the ACT’s most iconic organisations have joined forces with the University of Canberra being named as the Brumbies’ Principal Partner for the 2012 Super Rugby season.
Players, staff and coaches joined University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Parker at the Bruce campus on Tuesday morning to unveil the new strip and welcome in the exciting relationship.
Australia’s most successful rugby team will now be known as the University of Canberra Brumbies, a move the club’s Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said would kick-start an Australian first between professional rugby and a tertiary institution.
“This is an exciting and unique partnership that hasn’t been seen before in Australian sport. Naturally we are very excited about the opportunities this relationship will produce, both for us as a rugby team and for the University in terms of exposure and recognition,” Fagan said.
“Our partnership with UC will not only provide great benefit to the Brumbies and the University, this is a fantastic opportunity for us to engage the 13,000 students that are currently enrolled and the 60,000 alumni.
“We will be proud to display one of Canberra’s most recognisable and respected brands on our chest during the 2012 Super Rugby season and look forward to representing this city and its surrounding regions in the world’s toughest provincial rugby competition.”
In what both organisations see as the start of an enduring relationship, the partnership will work to strengthen the global standing of the University while providing the Brumbies with a broad spectrum of opportunities and connections.
Professor Parker was equally excited about the partnership on Tuesday, with the renowned scholar suggesting it 'made sense' to have two of Canberra’s most iconic organisations involved in a relationship of this nature.
“The University of Canberra and the Brumbies have a lot in common. We both proudly represent the Australian capital and serve its community, but we both have a national and international outlook and reputation," Professor Parker said.
“Both organisations take pride in their focus on professionalism, service, innovation and health.”
For clashes with Australian teams, the University of Canberra Brumbies 2012 strip is a close cut version of their original jersey while the blue and white sections switch when playing foreign teams at Canberra Stadium.
