South West Communications Group and Exeter Chiefs have marked their silver anniversary with a new sponsorship deal.
The new deal was signed by swcomms’ Commercial Director Jon Whiley in the presence of five of the club’s 25-year-old players to mark the longevity of the sponsorship relationship.
swcomms began sponsoring Exeter Chiefs in the 1994/95 season when the communications and IT company agreed to pay for a new set of playing shirts for the first team. This has grown into a seven-figure deal that represents the longest running main sponsorship relationship in the Premiership.
Whiley said: “A request in a clubhouse bar 25 years ago has grown into a long-term relationship that has seen Exeter Chiefs develop into a top-flight club playing at a world-class stadium that we are all immensely proud of.
"The fact that some of the players are younger than the length of our sponsorship relationship illustrates how long we have successfully worked together.”
Back in 1994, swcomms was known as South West Telecoms, but the name has changed to reflect the range of business solutions they now supply.
swcomms is the club’s main and community sponsor, as well as the technology sponsor of Sandy Park. The business supplies the phone system, Internet connectivity, Wi-Fi, data networks, CCTV, large hospitality screens and data centre services to the club and stadium.
Kieron Northcott, Deputy Chief Executive of Exeter Rugby Club, said: “This is a landmark deal for the club and swcomms. We continue to work closely with swcomms and we are grateful for their continued support. Here’s to the next 25 years!”