DIRECT CONNECT ANNOUNCED AS NAMING RIGHTS PARTNER FOR 2015 DEWAR SHIELD

11/03/2015

​The Victorian Rugby Union (VRU) is pleased to announce the signing of Direct Connect (www.directconnect.com.au) as the Official Naming Rights Partner of the 2015 Dewar Shield competition and a supporter of the Victorian Schools Rugby Union (VSRU).

Direct Connect is Australia’s leading utilities/service re-connection provider for people moving homes.

Direct Connect has been the primary supporter of the Melbourne University Rugby Football Club over the past five years and the company sees this as a great opportunity to step-up and support the broader rugby community in Victoria.

Rebels’ General Manager of Community Rugby Simon Davis believes that the partnership with Direct Connect is a wonderful boost for Victorian Rugby.

“We are delighted to welcome the Direct Connect team to support grassroots rugby in this great state and we look forward to working together to develop local talent in to future RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels,” he said.

Direct Connect CEO Paul Docherty said “Direct Connect has a strong history of community based partnerships; fundamental to those partnerships is an alignment of values.” “We can see through careful assessment of both the VRU and the RaboDirect Rebels that there’s a very strong focus on values both on and off the field and across all ages”.

“It’s incumbent on businesses such as Direct Connect to develop and strengthen these community based partnerships for the good of the community and rugby in general”. “There’s no better vehicle to do that than through a strengthening VRU and the Melbourne Rebels rugby community.” “We are proud to be a partner” said Paul.

Direct Connect works closely with a range of leading industry groups and suppliers of electricity, gas phone & internet, pay TV, insurance, removalists, truck hire and cleaning services to make moving easy. The company is headquartered in Melbourne with over 150 staff Australia-wide.

The Victorian Rugby Union was founded in 1909 with five clubs: Melbourne; East Melbourne; South Melbourne; St Kilda and the University of Melbourne competing for the inaugural trophy which was a shield donated by the Scotch Whisky Distillery John Dewar and Sons of Perth, named the Dewar Shield.

The 2014 Dewar Shield was a defining year, with all contracted Rebels players allocated to a Premier Rugby club to represent if not selected in the match-day 23 players for that weekend of Super Rugby.

The 2015 Direct Connect Dewar Shield promises to be one of high playing standards and tough competition with nine clubs competing for this prestigious award.

The season will commence on Saturday 21 March and will be held over 18 rounds of competition followed by 3 rounds of finals with the Grand Final to be held on Saturday 15 August 2015. For more information please visit here.

In addition to supporting the club competition, Direct Connect will be a strong supporter of the Victorian Schools Rugby Union (VSRU) in 2015 through:

• support of the VSRU/Xavier 7s that will be held at Xavier College on Saturday 18 April 2015;
• support of the VSRU tours to the United Kingdom (U18) and Tasmanian (U16) in 2015; and
• support of the VSRU Grand Finals day to be held at Marcellin College on Saturday 8 August 2015.