Judging panel for first Rugby Business Awards announced
Former New Zealand rugby union player Sean Fitzpatrick is to chair the judging panel for the inaugural Rugby Business Awards.
The awards, which are currently accepting nominations, are taking place in London in November and will reward commercial activities in Unions, Federations, clubs, franchises and regions of both codes of rugby as well the ork of businesses in sponsorship and CSR.
Mr Fitzpatrick says: “As a player I understood how much my career owed to the support of the commercial work surrounding the sport – and it has always surprised me that so little is done to celebrate this vital aspect of rugby, regardless of whether it is Union or League. Consequently, when I was asked to chair the judging panel for the Rugby Business Awards my immediate reaction was to say yes. The last 10 years have seen huge changes in how the sport is run and I think these awards not only celebrate this work, they will highlight good practice and stimulate both debate and more good ideas from which the whole game can benefit in future.”
Other members of the panel will be: Roger Draper (CEO, Lawn Tennis Association), Stuart Higgins (managing director, Stuart Higgins Communications), Tony Tyler (chief executive, Cathay Pacific), Charles Wijeratna (director of commercial negotiations, London Olympic Games Organising Company) Bill Calcraft (managing director, Allianz Renewables and former Australia Rugby Union International) Simon Crane (managing director, Eurosport), Sabro Takahashi (managing director, Navix Europe) Charles Mountifield (chairman of the Association of Rugby Agents), Paul Simon (head of commercial sponsorship, BT) and Rebecca Hopkins (managing director, ENS).
