Dame Allan's Schools Rugby Team Gets Up To Speed With New Sponsor
Dame Allan’s Schools rugby team has converted a major sponsor after agreeing a deal with award-winning automotive retailer Vertu.
The new sponsorship contributes to Vertu’s nationwide commitment to support grassroots sports and youth development, with many partnerships in place with community teams and programmes across the Group’s 194-strong dealership network.
Bringing together one of Newcastle’s oldest schools and the region’s largest UK-headquartered business, based in Gateshead, the deal will see the Dame Allan’s Schools’ First XV kitted out in brand new rugby shirts featuring Vertu branding.
Similar branding will also appear on the team’s warm-up kit, and on jackets worn pitch-side by the coaching team.
Founded in 1705, Dame Allan’s Schools has a proud tradition of both academic and sporting excellence. Rugby has long been a cornerstone of school life, with teams regularly competing in a range of both regional and national competitions.
The school has produced players who have gone on to represent both county and professional sides, and its rugby programme is recognised for instilling discipline, teamwork and resilience in pupils.
Vertu operates more than ten dealerships within a 30-mile radius of Dame Allan’s, and its head office is based not too far away in Gateshead’s Team Valley, underlining the company’s strong local presence.
The sponsorship also adds to Vertu’s existing partnership portfolio with major sporting organisations, including Newcastle Eagles basketball team, the English Football League (EFL), including title sponsorship of the EFL Vertu Trophy, and Premiership rugby side Exeter Chiefs, to name just a few.
Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu, said: "Rugby is a sport that shapes character. It teaches young people how to work together, how to handle setbacks and how to push themselves beyond their limits. Those lessons stay with you for life.
“By supporting Dame Allan’s Schools, we’re helping to ensure that these values continue to be passed on to the next generation. Sport is a powerful force for good, and we’re proud to play our part in keeping it thriving in our communities."
Mr Will Scott, Principal of Dame Allan’s Schools, added: "Rugby has been part of Dame Allan’s for generations. It’s more than just a game here – it’s a tradition that brings pupils together and builds confidence and camaraderie.
“This sponsorship from Vertu means we can invest even further in our teams and facilities, giving every child the chance to enjoy the sport and develop the qualities that will serve them well throughout life."