The Manchester branch of commercial insurance broker and risk management specialist Gallagher, joined colleagues from Liverpool and Chester to celebrate the start of its multi-year title partnership with Premiership Rugby, by holding the first-ever Gallagher Game Day at Sale Sharks.
Gallagher was announced as the Official Title Partner of Premiership Rugby earlier this year with a focus on embracing the wider rugby community, championing those that embody the values of rugby both on and off the pitch, and helping to protect and grow the game by making rugby an even more inclusive and empowering sport. Alongside the ability to get involved in and support community programmes, through its partnership Gallagher aims to help promote rugby and its values to an even greater audience by ensuring employees and their families can attend matches around the country.
The Gallagher Game Day, held as Sharks took on Wasps, marks the first of 12 such events the broker will be holding with each of the Premiership Rugby clubs across the course of the 2018/19 season. It provides local Gallagher branches with the chance to invite family, friends, grass roots rugby representatives and clients to celebrate the partnership as one community.
On Saturday, the children of Gallagher’s guests were given the opportunity of a lifetime – to become a part of official match day proceedings: 20 served as flag bearers, forming a ‘Guard of Honour’ as the players entered onto the pitch, while a further 12 were mascots for the day, standing side-by-side with the players before the start of the game.
The families also had the opportunity to take part in a special training session with community coaches from Gallagher Premiership Rugby, whilst other guests were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium, as well as a special Q&A session with players.
Stephen Penketh, regional managing director (North West) for Gallagher, said: “Our Gallagher Game Day at Sale Sharks was the perfect way for Gallagher in the North West to bring to life our new partnership with Premiership Rugby. Many of us here are huge fans of Rugby Union, so to become involved with the top division of the sport is incredibly exciting for us. As a business, the partnership also provides us with a platform to demonstrate our commitment to the local communities we work in, where every day we enable businesses and individuals to grow, thrive and achieve through helping them protect what matters most to them.”
