CANTERBURY BULLS SECURE SENZ AS NAMING RIGHTS SPONSOR
The SENZ Canterbury Bulls will compete in next month’s NZRL National Premiership following a partnership between Canterbury Rugby League and the national sports broadcaster to become the naming rights sponsor of the region’s flagship men’s representative team.
“We are grateful and excited with the opportunity to partner with our national sport radio network in SENZ,” Canterbury Rugby League CEO Malcolm Humm says.
“To have SENZ as the naming rights sponsor of the Canterbury Bulls, our pinnacle men’s team who will play in the National Premiership, seems like a natural fit given the amount of rugby league content they deliver to New Zealanders on a daily basis.”
SENZ, New Zealand’s only dedicated sports media business connecting brands with fans, launched in 2021 following an expansion into the New Zealand market for Sports Entertainment Network.
SENZ operates 28 radio stations in New Zealand and has delivered unprecedented coverage of rugby league – from NRL level to grassroots – throughout its network.
“Additionally, a key goal of the Canterbury Rugby League Strategic Plan 2023-26 is that there is, ‘increased visibility of our game through media platforms, equitably celebrating all involved’,” Humm explains.
“We believe that that our partnership with SENZ will help us achieve this goal, whilst providing SENZ an opportunity to align itself with a reputable and successful rugby league brand in the Canterbury Bulls.”
Humm appeared on SENZ’s Afternoons with Staffy show last month to discuss Canterbury Rugby League’s pathways agreement with NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
“We are delighted to partner with such a great team as the Canterbury Bulls, and look forward to seeing the SENZ logo proudly worn on the team’s jersey,” said SEN New Zealand CEO Sam Bingley.
“SENZ is New Zealand’s unrivalled home of sport and we look forward to this partnership amplifying our presence amongst sport lovers while providing great support to the team.”
The SENZ Canterbury Bulls’ 2023 campaign gets underway on September 2 at Ngā Puna Wai. The Bulls reached the NZRL National Premiership last season, going down to Akarana Falcons at North Harbour Stadium.
This year’s competition is split into two pools of three teams – the SENZ Canterbury Bulls are grouped with Counties Manukau Stingrays and Otago Whalers, while Akarana Falcons, Auckland and Waikato Mana feature in the other pool.
Teams will play both teams in their pool and one crossover match, before the top two qualifiers in each pool progress to the semi-finals.
Saturday, Sep 2 – Round 1: SENZ Canterbury Bulls v Counties Manukau Stingrays @ Ngā Puna Wai
Saturday, Sep 9 – Round 2: SENZ Canterbury Bulls v Auckland @ Ngā Puna Wai
Saturday, Sep 16 – Round 3: SENZ Canterbury Bulls v Otago Whalers @ Forsyth Barr Stadium
