St Ives Rugby Club kick off their new season on Saturday with growing sponsorship from a range of businesses throughout Cornwall.
From left, Andy Dale and Matt Nellyer, directors of Cornish Riviera Holidays, with Ian Sanders, chairman of St Ives RFC’s rugby committee, and some of the Hakes players
The Hakes have a long and proud history within St Ives. They run a very successful junior section, with teams ranging from under-sevens to under-16s. This season, the club is re-establishing its Colts team after an absence of several years.
The first team were champions of Counties 2 Tribute Cornwall last season and will be playing this year in the Counties 1 Tribute Western West league at level 7. There’s an open door for new players, volunteers, and supporters.
Among those supporters is Cornish Riviera Holidays, which has come on board as a major sponsor, with branding on the first and second teams’ shorts.
Established in 1984, Cornish Riviera Holidays is an independent, local, family-owned St Ives-based self-catering holiday letting agent. It manages a wide range of properties, from modern apartments and townhouses to fisherman’s cottages and artists’ lofts.
“It’s an exciting time for St Ives Rugby Football Club, with imminent developments to improve the grounds and clubhouse to support players,” said Matt Nellyer, director of Cornish Riviera Holidays.
“We are proud that Cornish Riviera Holidays can play a part in this, supporting a club which is at the heart of the local community. We are delighted to have our logo on the players’ shorts, and are excited to see them out on the pitch.
“It’s going to be a great season for the Hakes, and we could not be prouder to be a part of the team.”
With more than 140 years of rugby history behind the team, St Ives RFC dates back to approximately 1880, when the game was first introduced to the town.
The club has played an important role in the community, developing players to reach their potential. Youth players come up through the ranks, families enjoy the social connections, and the clubhouse hosts many important celebrations.
“Many people in and around St Ives have a connection to St Ives RFC,” said Ian Sanders, chairman of the club’s rugby committee. “If you don’t play rugby for the Hakes, you know someone who does!
“Over the many years of rugby played in St Ives, a great deal of history has been made, including producing county, South West, and international players with full England caps. The history of the club is long and we have an exciting future ahead.”
He added: “The Hakes are full of energy, with a growing youth squad. We’re looking forward to level 7 rugby this season and continuing our excellent performance. With the backing of local businesses, we will be better able to develop our players.
“So we are extremely grateful to so many for their ongoing support over the years, and we would like to say a huge thank you to Cornish Riviera Holidays for being our most recent and significant sponsor. We are proud to display their logo on our shorts and can’t wait to start the season.”
There are development plans for the grounds, including a new clubhouse and changing rooms, plus a change of site for the second pitch. Capital developments have also enabled practical advantages, such as a huge number of parking spaces. This has resulted in significant footfall to the site.
With car park usage alone reaching more than 800 per month, this is a key time for St Ives RFC to develop its sponsorship opportunities. This enables the club’s corporate partners to benefit from significant brand exposure and awareness.
Sponsorship opportunities with St Ives RFC are far reaching and businesses are encouraged to contact the club to find out more about how they can benefit. Visit stivesswrfc.co.uk or contact Helen Mulhern on helen@eventy.co.uk.
