2degrees Secures Three-Year Partnership with New Zealand Rugby to Back Women’s Game

2degrees has expanded its signed a three-year partnership with New Zealand Rugby, becoming the official telecommunications partner and heavily backing high-performance pathway programs.

The multi-year agreement embeds 2degrees across multiple levels of women’s rugby, spanning the Black Ferns, Black Ferns XV, Black Ferns Sevens, and the New Zealand Under 18 Girls programs.

Furthermore, the telco will serve as the official presenting partner of Contact Ready, a national introductory program tailored for teenage girls transitioning into contact rugby. This corporate commitment complements 2degrees’ existing sponsorships with all four Sky Super Rugby Aupiki clubs, reinforcing its long-term investment strategy in female athletics.

Highlighting the alignment and the scale of the sponsorship, 2degrees CEO, Mark Callander, said: “The opportunity to be the telecommunications partner for New Zealand Rugby is exciting for 2degrees and highlights the credibility and capability we have connecting leading NZ institutions.”

“New Zealand Rugby reaches every corner of the motu, from local clubs and school fields right through to packed stadiums and the international stage.

“This partnership gives us the ability to invest in one of New Zealand’s most iconic sporting organisations at a scale we’ve never done before.

“I’m incredibly proud of how we are able to strengthen our commitment and continue our work backing women’s sport.

“The 2degrees team has been working hard with a range of sports and codes for years, and today’s announcement signifies our ongoing commitment,” Callander said.

Emphasising the developmental importance of the corporate partnership, Black Ferns head coach, Whitney Hansen, added: “We know that inspiring the next generation starts with creating opportunities at different levels of the game.”

Having partners who believe in that journey and want to invest in players from our early representative programmes through to the Black Ferns sends a really powerful message about the future of women’s rugby in New Zealand,” Hansen said.

Echoing these sentiments, pointing out the strategic novelty of a nationwide pathway investment, New Zealand Rugby chief commercial officer, Chris Brown, noted: “This is an exciting partnership because it focuses on the future of women’s rugby.”

“Having a partner invest across the women’s pathway, from New Zealand Rugby’s women’s development programmes through to the Black Ferns, is a first for us, and demonstrates the growing strength and appeal of the women’s game.

“2degrees has a proven commitment to supporting women and girls in sport, and its ambition aligns closely with ours.

“Together, we’re helping create more opportunities for players, strengthening the pathway and ensuring the next generation can see a clear future in rugby,” Brown said.

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