Vodafone will sponsor next year’s British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa to the tune of around €5.5 million when it kicks off with a game against the DHL Stormers in Cape Town in early July. Vodafone’s logo will appear on the front of the Lions’ team shirt and the company will provide communications technology to keep the tour party connected.
The company will also provide technical support for training and player performance. In September last year, Vodafone Ireland signed an extension agreement to be lead sponsor of the Ireland rugby team and communications partner to the IRFU until 2024. The deal also involved Vodafone sponsoring the IRFU women’s interprovincial championship.
Lions tour schedule:
Saturday, July 3: Lions v DHL Stormers – Cape Town
Wednesday, July 7: Lions v South Africa invitational – Port Elizabeth
Saturday, July 10: Lions v Cell C Sharks – Durban
Wednesday, July 14: Lions v South Africa ‘A’ Team – Nelspruit
Saturday, July 17: British & Irish Lions v Vodacom Bulls – Pretoria
Saturday July 24 (first test): Springboks v Lions – Johannesburg
Saturday, July 31 (second test): Springboks v Lions – Cape Town
Saturday 7 August (third test): Springboks v Lions – Johannesburg
Pictured are Vodafone CEO Anne O’Leary and former Ireland player Jamie Heaslip
