Vivendi has been appointed as the Official Sponsors of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France.
Vivendi, which had already supported France’s bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023, is also the competition’s only Official Entertainment Sponsor. The sponsorship is one of the first to be signed for the world’s third-largest sporting event.
The entire Vivendi group is committed to making this event a huge success. All the group’s entertainment activities, each bringing their own forms of expression and audiences, will help give unprecedented exposure to this sporting competition and enable new audiences to discover rugby.
Vivendi has already been involved in several major initiatives. Universal Music produced the Rugby World Cup Train that traveled across France for six weeks in September and October. Editis has published a groundbreaking “Gastronomy XV cookbook” featuring 23 Chefs brought together by France 2023.
Havas designed and produced the animated videos announcing the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Official Sponsors as well as all the branding and communication for Campus 2023, the Apprentice Programme created by France 2023 that will educate and prepare France’s future sports administrative experts. Several Havas subsidiaries as well as See Tickets, Vivendi’s ticketing arm, have also been selected by France 2023 for the marketing and media plan.
Yannick Bolloré, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Vivendi, said: “Rugby has been closely linked to Vivendi’s identity for over thirty years. It was therefore a natural fit to involve the Group in this incredible adventure to organize a Rugby World Cup in France. As well as helping a larger audience to discover rugby, I am extremely happy to support Rugby World Cup France 2023 and promote inclusion and diversity.”
Arnaud de Puyfontaine, Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi, explained: “Creating a top-level competition and a festive event aimed at a broad audience is a tremendous and exciting challenge. Our different businesses are at the crossroads of entertainment, media and communication, and embody strong values. I am convinced that together we will all contribute to a hugely successful Rugby World Cup France 2023”.
