Pacific Islanders sign Digicel as major sponsors

Pacific Rugby Limited announced Friday the signing of mobile phone operator Digicel Pacific Limited as naming rights sponsor and official mobile and communications provider of the Pacific Islanders team that will take on Wales, Scotland and Ireland later this month.

Pacific Rugby’s chief executive officer, Sakopo Lolohea, expressed huge delight at the deal that will see the Pacific triumvirate team well supported for the three-Test tour to the British Isles.

“It’s great to have Digicel Pacific on board as the main sponsor,” Mr Lolohea said. “The Pacific Islanders are a relatively new but very dynamic team, and that image is matched perfectly by our new sponsors Digicel.”

The Digicel Pacific Islanders are made up of the cream of the crop from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, combining the complementary strengths of each of the three teams. The November tour will be their second, following their inaugural tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2004.

Digicel Pacific founder and chairman, Denis O’Brien, revealed that the new sponsorship deal will help Digicel promote its mobile business across the Pacific.

“Our partnership with the Pacific Islanders is an exciting new development in the growth of Digicel in this region,” Mr O’Brien said. “And the team can rely on our full support in helping them achieve their goal of competing with the Tier 1 rugby nations.”

“Digicel is committed to building a seamless Pan Pacific GSM network that places the entire region at the cutting-edge of wireless technology. Nothing unites the Pacific region as much as a passion for rugby. Partnership with Pacific Rugby allows us to foster personal and professional connections between nations and our customers as we build out our operations.”

Mr Lolohea, explained that the Digicel Pacific Islanders team is “about a playing opportunity for our elite players at the highest level against Tier 1 Nations.”

“This tour is about showcasing our brand of rugby to the Northern Hemisphere. We want to show everyone what we can do if given the chance.”

Coached by former Manu Samoa captain, Pat Lam, the Digicel Pacific Islanders take on Wales at the Millennium Stadium on 11 November before travelling to Murrayfield and Lansdowne Road to face Scotland and Ireland, respectively.

Though they narrowly lost their three Tests in 2004, the Pacific Islanders racked up a total of 10 tries against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – an impressive feat by anyone’s standards.

Earlier this week, Digicel launched their GSM services in Samoa.

“This launch represents the first step in what promises to be a very exciting journey, “Vanessa Slowey, CEO of Digicel Pacific Ltd, said.

“We are thrilled to be launching the first of the Digicel Pan Pacific operations in Samoa and it is appropriate that we take the best rugby in the Digicel Pacific Islanders and combine our synergies to achieve collective excellence.”

Digicel Pacific Islanders 2006 Schedule:
Saturday 11 November – vs Wales
Saturday 18 November – vs Scotland
Sunday 26 November – vs Ireland