Professional Sports Group create a new half time challenge
November 21, 2008
Leading Sports Marketing Agency champion new half time rugby craze
This weekend witnessed the inaugural ‘Rugball’ Challenge. The all new supporters’ showdown was conceived by Professional Sports Group (PSG) and piloted at the recent Harlequins / Wasps games at the Stoop to activate world renowned airline, Etihad Airways, sponsorship of London based rugby team. The ‘Rugball’ challenge, managed by the PSG Events team will run throughout the season and culminate in the Grand Final. The final will be held on the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Day, where the best Quins team and best Away team will return to do battle for a holiday to Abu Dhabi courtesy of Etihad.
Designed to interact with the devoted supporters who loyally fill the stands at The Stoop week in week out, as well as activating the Etihad Airways sponsorship, ‘Rugball’ is now considered the envy of other sports grounds up and down the nation. The challenge brings out the passion of both sets of supporters, desperate to represent their home team and fans, by staving off the challenge of the travelling away support.
The Etihad Airways ‘Rugball’ Challenge will be taking place during half time of each home game at Harlequins. The name of the game is simple: try to get as many balls in the rugball as quickly as possible! The boys have to kick at least three of the balls from 10m away, they can then choose to throw or kick the other two. The girls get to throw the balls from 5m away. Sounds simple!
Each match will pit two Quins supporters, one boy and girl, against two opposing supporters, This weekend saw an epic battle between Rebecca Palmer and Iain George, two Quins supporters taking on two Wasps supporters, Martin Turner and Samantha Goodsell. Following the form of the actual Premiership match, the Quins team led from the outset. Rebecca and George scored five points in a time of 59.78 seconds and were presented with a congratulatory bottle of champagne. With the standard set there is little doubt the Quinns fans will look to dominate all comers in what is now a regular fixture on during the half time break.
Jamie Cunningham, Professional Sports Group, Managing Director commented, “We welcomed a challenge to find a new half time activity. ‘Rugball’ is a lot of fun, very competitive and harder than it looks. It will be a great half time rugby spectacle. In 2009, we are looking at opportunities to license the game to rugby clubs worldwide.”
Rugball has been developed by Professional Sports Group who see this as the new innovative way to truly engage fans at half time. Rugball will create real competition between supporters no doubt adding to the match atmosphere, as well as creating an exciting piece of entertainment for all to enjoy. For more information visit www.profsports.com to find out more about innovative sponsorship activation projects undertaken by PSG