Scottish Rugby & Snowsport Sponsorships | HSBC Deals

Scottish Rugby has awarded 35 professional contracts to its women’s players for the 2025-26 season.

The new structure is an increase from the 32 players supported in the previous year and includes 28 full-time deals. The model will see 17 fully contracted players supported within England’s PWR and France’s elite leagues, while 11 players on full contracts and seven on development contracts will be based in Scotland.

A further 15 emerging players will also be given access to the high-performance programme.

The announcement follows a period of uncertainty for the squad, which saw three senior players retire and head coach Bryan Easson depart after the World Cup.

Alex Williamson, CEO, Scottish Rugby, said, “The performances of Scotland women at the Women’s Rugby World Cup have undoubtedly given us a strong platform to move into the next phase of our high-performance programme. Our commitment to the women’s game remains and our focus now moves to qualifying for, and competing in, Rugby World Cup 2029.”

David Nucifora, Performance Director, Scottish Rugby, said, “High Performance sport doesn’t stand still and we intentionally wanted to be ready to start the next Rugby World Cup cycle at the earliest appropriate moment. I’m confident the full programme will be operating within the timescales we planned and will strengthen the opportunities available to players in Scotland.”

The Global Rugby Players Foundation (GRPF) has partnered with financial services company HSBC to support rugby players with their transition to life after their playing careers.

Building on its 25-year history in rugby, HSBC will provide players with financial literacy programmes, mentorship from its business leaders, and access to its Premier banking services. The partnership aims to support players in managing international careers and preparing for their post-rugby lives, whether through new career paths or building their own businesses.

As part of the agreement, five new online learning modules focused on financial health will be added to the GRPF’s ‘Beyond the Game’ learning platform. HSBC UK will also support players with their international banking needs as they move between countries during their careers. The GRPF was founded by former international players including Jonny Wilkinson, Dan Carter, and Rachael Burford.

Sara Heath, CEO, GRPF, said, “We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with HSBC. This partnership will dramatically amplify the crucial work we are already doing and enable us to reach a broader spectrum of players in more locations globally, providing them with resources that genuinely make a profound difference in their lives.”

GB Snowsport have signed a new partnership deal with specialist insurance broker McGill and Partners.

The agreement will see the brand become an official partner to the national governing body, with the collaboration set to begin ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Billy Major, GB Snowsport Alpine World Cup squad member, said, “It’s great to have this partnership between GB Snowsport and McGill and Partners. It’s been really clear that we share a vision, and as we go from strength-to-strength this support makes a huge difference. I’m very proud to be a part of this team and this culture of British underdog success, and together we’re building something really powerful.”

Ollie Hill, GB Snowsport Para Snowboard World Cup squad member, said, “I wouldn’t be where I am now without the team around me, and it’s the support we get as a team which makes all of this possible. We’re really grateful to have McGill and Partners come on board for this season, and for us it’s now about making sure we put the work in to get ourselves into the best position to succeed.”

The English Schools’ Football Association (ESFA) has partnered with Davies Sports.

The agreement sees Davies Sports become the association’s official sports resources partner, providing access to high-quality football and PE equipment for schools. The brand will also support the ESFA’s programme of competitions and initiatives, which helps thousands of children take part in football each year.

The ESFA is the governing body for schools’ football in England. Davies Sports is owned by the ecommerce educational resources supplier Findel.

Tony James, Chair of the ESFA, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Davies Sport as an official partner of the ESFA. Their reputation for quality and their commitment to supporting schools with football and PE equipment perfectly aligns with our mission to give every school pupil the opportunity to enjoy football. We look forward to working together to strengthen the sporting experience for young people across England.”

Paul Clarke, Sales Director at Findel, said, “We are proud to be partnering with the English Schools’ Football Association and supporting the incredible work it does to inspire young people through football. Football plays such an important role in participation, teamwork and personal development. We’re excited that Davies Sport can help enhance those experiences by providing high-quality equipment to pupils across the country.”

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