Latest news with #HughMcCaughey
The 42
21 hours ago
- Business
- The 42
Ulster Rugby secure new naming-rights partner for Ravenhill Stadium
ULSTER RUGBY HAVE secured a new long-term naming-rights sponsorship deal for Ravenhill Stadium. Effective immediately, the home of Ulster Rugby will officially become known as Affidea Stadium (pronounced AF-fi-DAY-ah) after the northern province agreed a partnership with the European healthcare company. In a statement, Ulster said that the new partnership will provide 'a strong platform to invest in the development of players, facilities and fan experience'. Advertisement Affidea, who entered the Irish market in 2007 with the acquisition of MRI Ireland, now operates in over 16 countries and has 410 clinics across Europe. Affidea Ireland have recently expanded their footprint in the north, with plans approved for the company to open a state-of-the-art private hospital in Belfast in 2026. The new facility is set to include an orthopaedic and sports medicine centre of excellence. Ulster CEO Hugh McCaughey said that the province is 'delighted to welcome Affidea as our new stadium naming-rights partner.' 'Affidea shares our passion for high performance, our commitment to the health and wellbeing of people across the province, and our vision for the future of rugby in Ulster,' McCaughey added. 'Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster.' Barry Downes, CEO of Affidea UK and Ireland said: 'Affidea is thrilled to partner with Ulster Rugby, a club with rich heritage, passionate support, and a deep-rooted connection to the local community. 'This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Affidea to further grow our presence and impact in the province of Ulster. Rugby is a game that inspires excellence, teamwork, and trust, values that align strongly with our approach to healthcare. We're proud to see our name on a stadium that also represents those ideals.' Ireland's senior women's team will play the first game at the newly branded Affidea Stadium on 9 August (. Scott Bemand's side will host Canada 48 hours before the head coach announces his squad for the Rugby World Cup.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ulster's home ground to be renamed Affidea Stadium
Ulster Rugby's home ground has been renamed the Affidea Stadium after a "long-term" sponsorship agreement with the healthcare Belfast ground, originally known as Ravenhill, had been called Kingspan Stadium since Ulster statement said the new deal will provide "a strong platform to invest in the development of players, facilities and fan experience"."Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster," said the province's chief executive officer Hugh 11-year naming rights deal with construction firm Kingspan concluded at the end of last month, while the association went back to commercial relationship with the Cavan-based company had been questioned in the wake of the firm's links to the Grenfell Tower people died in the fire in London in 2017 and Kingspan's business practices were criticised during an company, however, said its products made up only 5% of the insulation at Grenfell and that they were used without its recommendation.
Belfast Telegraph
a day ago
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Ulster Rugby confirm deal with leading healthcare provider as new stadium sponsor
The leading European health diagnostics company has agreed a deal with the province that will see its name replace that of Kingspan at Ravenhill rugby ground, which will be renamed Affidea Stadium. It is understood that an announcement was originally planned for July 10, however the reveal was rushed forward after the province were contacted with news of the partnership by the Belfast Telegraph. Notably, the province have not revealed what the financials behind what they have described as 'landmark' deal will be, or the length of it, although it seems unlikely that it will be the same 10-year term that Kingspan agreed in June 2014. Ulster have been on the lookout for a new sponsor since confirming in January 2024 they would be moving on from Kingspan, whose role in the Grenfell disaster led to significant scrutiny on their relationship, following a one-year "transition period". In March it was confirmed that Co Antrim-based manufacturing company SAM would replace Kingspan as the province's principal sponsor, which will see their logo on the team's shirts, but would not be taking on the stadium sponsorship as well. That, instead, has been given to Affidea, which runs 19 clinics across the island of Ireland and currently operates three established facilities in Northern Ireland – Orthoderm, Hillsborough Private Medical Clinic and Northern MRI – while in 2023 it announced its intention to open a new state-of-the-art facility on the Boucher Road. The first game at the newly-named Affidea Stadium will be on August 9 when Ireland face Canada as part of the Women's Summer Series, with Ulster's first fixture due to be on September 26 when they face Dragons in their opening United Rugby Championship fixture. 'We are delighted to welcome Affidea as our new stadium naming rights partner,' commented Ulster Rugby chief executive Hugh McCaughey. "Affidea shares our passion for high performance, our commitment to the health and wellbeing of people across the province, and our vision for the future of rugby in Ulster. Together, we will continue to invest in elite and grassroots rugby, and we look forward to seeing the Affidea Stadium become a beacon for sport and community pride in Ulster.' Barry Downes, chief executive of Affidea UK and Ireland said: 'Affidea is thrilled to partner with Ulster Rugby, a club with rich heritage, passionate support, and a deep-rooted connection to the local community. This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for Affidea to further grow our presence and impact in the province of Ulster. "Rugby is a game that inspires excellence, teamwork, and trust, values that align strongly with our approach to healthcare. We're proud to see our name on a stadium that also represents those ideals.'
