Velocity Brand Management (VBM) has been appointed the exclusive global licensing agent by the British & Irish Lions for the much anticipated 2013 Tour to Australia. This is the Lions’ first time back to Australia since the memorable 2001 Tour that saw over 20,000 British & Irish Lions supporters venture south to support the team at sell out test venues across the country. The ten match 2013 Tour schedule kicks off in Hong Kong on the 1st June where the Lions will play the Barbarians, before moving to Perth and across the continent, culminating with the 3rd and final Test in Sydney on the 6th July.
Dave Kavanagh, Commercial Director for the British & Irish Lions said “We are very happy to have secured the services of a specialist licensing partner with the experience and track record of VBM. Licensing is becoming an increasingly important part of how the Lions brand is promoted and presented to rugby fans all over the world and never more so than in the period leading into a Tour. We very much look forward to working with VBM to create a first class licensing programme in keeping with all that ‘The Lions’ stands for”.
VBM’s Managing Director James Ashworth added “We are absolutely delighted to be working with the Lions, a prestigious brand that sits perfectly alongside our expanding portfolio of sports properties here in the UK. Early demand from licensees has been positive and we are looking to put forward a collection of products befitting the demographic of supporters here at home and travelling to fly the flag”