top of page

Champ Rugby Secures Multi-Year, Purpose-Led Partnership



Champ Rugby is delighted to announce a multi-year partnership with contract caterer Elior UK, becoming the title sponsor of the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) Tier 2 competition, in a relationship built on shared values, community impact and a commitment to health and wellbeing.


Under the new agreement, the competition will be known as Elior Champ Rugby. This is a significant new chapter for the league and a major step forward in Elior UK’s investment in sport, culture and social value. The agreement marks the first title sponsorship for the league in over six years and reflects a shift towards purpose-led collaboration, where commercial success and social impact go hand in hand.


At the centre of the partnership is a strong alignment of purpose. Both organisations place people, wellbeing and opportunity at the centre of what they do – from Champ Rugby’s mission to grow competition following and interest, while strengthening clubs, players and communities nationwide, to Elior UK’s focus on nutrition, healthier lifestyles and its lifetime of enrichment social-value programme.


Together, Champ Rugby and Elior UK aim to champion the role of food, health and community in supporting performance on the pitch and positive outcomes off it, helping players, fans and local communities thrive.


Champ Rugby is English rugby’s biggest supporter, connecting grassroots communities with the professional game and providing a ‘Proving Ground’ for future stars. It is the second tier of men’s rugby and is played by both professional and semi-professional players. Featuring 14 teams across the country, the league delivers strong regional reach, local engagement and a powerful platform for community support.


Brian Facer, Head of Champ Rugby, said:

“At Champ Rugby, we exist to grow the game, develop people and strengthen communities. Elior UK shares that same commitment to driving opportunity and long-term impact. This is about fuelling futures - investing in healthier lifestyles, stronger clubs and the next generation of players and fans.”

“This is far more than a sponsorship - it’s a partnership built on shared values,” said Catherine Roe, chief executive officer at Elior UK."


“We’re championing nutrition and healthier lifestyles and supporting local communities and future talent. This collaboration enables us to bring our purpose to life in a meaningful and impactful way.”


Craig Stewart, divisional managing director, stadia at Elior UK added,

“Our experience delivering food and hospitality in the stadia sector makes us a natural partner for Champ Rugby. This partnership allows us to apply that expertise in a way that supports clubs, communities and the future of the game.”

Activation is now rolling out in the final quarter of the season, with the league transitioning to Elior Champ Rugby branding across broadcast, digital and in-stadium environments.


Elior UK already has a strong presence within UK sport, including established partnerships at Scottish Rugby’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, and with Glasgow Warriors. The Champ Rugby collaboration builds on this foundation while extending Elior’s impact deeper into regional communities.


Photo: Left to right: Craig Stewart, Managing Director, Stadia and Events, Elior UK / Catherine Roe, CEO, Elior UK / Leni Savva, CFO, Elior UK / Brian Facer, Head of Champ Rugby


About Champ Rugby

Champ Rugby is the professional second tier of rugby union in England. Featuring 14 teams across the country, it is English rugby’s biggest supporter and is the crucial link in the pathway from grassroots to the top of the game. On the field, talent is handed an opportunity at the elite level, off the field, Champ Rugby lives for the growth of the game, connecting people and communities.

For further information view here.


About Elior UK

Elior UK operates high profile catering contracts across the B&I, health & care home, defence, education, stadia and heritage sectors. It provides customers with a bespoke offer that focuses on great food, drink and customer service and couples it with the benefits that a large company brings. Elior UK is part of Elior Group which operates worldwide with annual revenues of €5.8billion.

For further information view here.


About Elior Group

Founded in 1991, the Elior Group is a world leader in catering and multiservice, and a benchmark in the world of business, education, health, social and leisure. Enjoying robust positions in 9 countries, the Group achieved pro forma revenue of €5.8 billion in 2023. Its 133,000 employees feed 3.1 million people every day in 20,200 restaurants on three continents and provide services in 6 countries.


The Group is based on an economic model built around innovation and social responsibility. In 2004, the Elior Group signed up to the United Nations Global Compact, reaching advanced level in 2015.

For more information view here.

Most Read

Lambing Days Return To Hampshire Farm Shop

Lambing Days Return To Hampshire Farm Shop

Westlands Farm Shop, near Wickham, has announced the return of its highly anticipated Lambing Days, following a complete sell-out across all four days last year.

St Austell Brewery Partners With Student-Run Microbrewery

St Austell Brewery Partners With Student-Run Microbrewery

A leading independent brewer has partnered with a student run microbrewery to produce 500 casks of the students’ popular stout for this year’s Wetherspoon Spring Beer Festival.

New Data Reveals £3.3bn Cost Of Sub-100k Sq Ft Inventory Shortage

New Data Reveals £3.3bn Cost Of Sub-100k Sq Ft Inventory Shortage

An industry report by leading I&L property company Potter Space, in partnership with Savills, has revealed the scale of a decade of undersupply of sub-100k sq ft I&L space, also referred to as small to mid-box.

Categories

  • Jun 20, 2023
  • 2 min read

Clarion is continuing to recognise and reward colleagues, this year promoting another seven associates to the position of senior associate in addition to recently appointing two partners and four legal directors.


Alexander Lehany, Kerri-Anne Ball, Oliver Barlow, Siobhan Dexter, Kate Fernyhough, Anna Lockyer and Jack Farrer have all become senior associates.


Roger Hutton, joint managing partner at Clarion, comments: “As a firm, we genuinely value our colleagues and are proud to support them as they learn and develop with us. This year’s promotions once again celebrate the up-and-coming talent within our team who also embody the Clarion culture – all of those recognised are lawyers who demonstrate excellent technical ability as well as being able to form strong relationships with clients by showing they can ‘walk in their shoes’. They have also all made a significant contribution to our continued success whether by mentoring and training junior colleagues, carrying out CSR initiatives or undertaking valuable networking."


“It is extremely gratifying to see them progressing their careers, and we look forward to continuing to provide an environment in which they can thrive.”


Since joining Clarion in 2015 to complete his training contract, Alex has become a valued member of the commercial dispute resolution (CDR) team, providing commercially focused advice and winning work through his strong technical skills.


A specialist in private wealth, Kerri-Anne is a homegrown-Clarion talent who is adept at working on complex, multi-faceted probate matters. With her organisational skills and attention to detail inspiring trust from clients, she has also helped develop paralegals in her team. She is an affiliated member of Solicitors for the Elderly and is progressing through the STEP qualification.


Oliver’s technical knowledge within the CDR team has impressed clients and colleagues, resulting in him often leading on complex matters. A great team player, he has built strong relationships within Clarion.


Siobhan works within the construction practice where she has taken on the role of trainee supervisor, helping to support and develop less experienced colleagues. Trusted by her clients, she has lots of experience of working on complex cases for several major clients and is also helping strengthen the team’s expertise in the energy sector.


An expert in real estate secured finance, Kate has been instrumental in assisting Clarion’s real estate finance team to expand the quality work it has been completing for a range of banks, as well as frequently working closely with colleagues in the banking and finance practice. With a specialism of acting for lenders on large portfolio work, she demonstrates great organisational skills and commerciality.


Over the last four years, Anna has made a key contribution to the continued success of Clarion’s costs and litigation funding team. She has independently worked on some large and complex cost management assignments, demonstrating first-class technical skills and client service.


Finally, Jack, takes on the role of senior associate in the commercial practice having established himself as a dedicated specialist on data protection and privacy issues. With his background as a commercial lawyer, he is trusted to assist the team by providing advice on wider commercial agreements.


Recently recognised at the third fastest growing law firm in Europe, Clarion last year had a turnover of almost £27m and works both nationally and internationally. It has a 300-strong team, including 32 partners.


Most Read

Lambing Days Return To Hampshire Farm Shop

Lambing Days Return To Hampshire Farm Shop

Westlands Farm Shop, near Wickham, has announced the return of its highly anticipated Lambing Days, following a complete sell-out across all four days last year.

St Austell Brewery Partners With Student-Run Microbrewery

St Austell Brewery Partners With Student-Run Microbrewery

A leading independent brewer has partnered with a student run microbrewery to produce 500 casks of the students’ popular stout for this year’s Wetherspoon Spring Beer Festival.

New Data Reveals £3.3bn Cost Of Sub-100k Sq Ft Inventory Shortage

New Data Reveals £3.3bn Cost Of Sub-100k Sq Ft Inventory Shortage

An industry report by leading I&L property company Potter Space, in partnership with Savills, has revealed the scale of a decade of undersupply of sub-100k sq ft I&L space, also referred to as small to mid-box.

Categories

Nottingham Business Drives Success As Investment Pays Off

Nottingham Business Drives Success As Investment Pays Off

Investment in a Nottingham based motor dealership is driving sales, service and recruitment through the roof after a newly launched van centre achieved 60 sales in just six weeks, smashing its annual target.

New Hire Boosts Azets Restructuring And Insolvency Team

New Hire Boosts Azets Restructuring And Insolvency Team

UK top 10 accountancy firm Azets has appointed a new insolvency practitioner on the South Coast as business demand grows.

Lifetime Achievement Award Caps Glory Night For University

Lifetime Achievement Award Caps Glory Night For University

Professor Sir Mike Ferguson, one of Scotland’s pre-eminent scientists, was recognised for his outstanding research career when he received a Lifetime Achievement Award during a night of celebration for the University of Dundee.

Recent Posts

bottom of page