Sat 17 May 2014 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Back: Adrian Yee-Joy and Carl Fergusson of ASB. Front: Falcons chair Blair Dickman, coach Ray Pye and secretary Gavin Hyde. 7PM: ASB has signed up as the principal sponsor of gay rugby team the NZ Falcons for 2014 and 2015. "This arrangement secures the club's immediate future and ensures its participation in the 2014 Bingham Cup and beyond,” Falcons President Blair Dickman says. As part of the sponsorship, Falcons players will be sporting ASB logos on their jerseys. The announcement has come at a fundraising dinner at gay-owned Auckland restaurant and cafe Marcello’s tonight. ASB Chief Executive Barbara Chapman says it’s a fantastic opportunity for the bank to throw its support “behind a team of passionate New Zealand rugby players competing on the world stage”. She adds: “We are delighted to be able to play a role in getting them to the Bingham Cup and we wish them every success in what is sure to be a very competitive tournament." The Falcons’ current focus is on their club matches in the Auckland Competition and then their tour to Wellington on Queens Birthday Weekend to play an invitational game and promote the team outside of Auckland. In August they will take part in the Bingham Cup, the gay equivalent of the Rugby World Cup, in Sydney. Over 30 teams are expected to attend and this will be the first time a New Zealand team has participated. ASB’s sponsorship comes as it’s signed up to the Rainbow Tick and launched an internal lgbti community network called Unity.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 17th May 2014 - 7:00pm