Japanese company, Taisho Pharmaceutical announced as Premium Global Partner
8 October 2021New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has today announced a partnership with Taisho Pharmaceutical (Taisho) as Premium Global Partner from 2022 onwards.
Taisho, a leading Japanese Pharmaceuticals company has agreed to a six-year partnership to become a Global Partner to the All Blacks, Black Ferns, and the Official Sponsor in New Zealand of the Rugby World Cup 2021 (played in 2022). Lipovitan-D – one of Taisho’s original products – from 2022 will also become the Official Title Partner for the Rugby Championship.
The partnership is testament to strong rugby ties between Japan and New Zealand, with Taisho also the major partner to Japan’s national team. Both parties share an interest in growing rugby participation and fan engagement, while Taisho sees this partnership with NZR as an opportunity to promote the development of rugby in Japan.
NZR Chief Executive, Mark Robinson said:
“Bringing to life our global ambitions for rugby and to connect our teams to all corners of the world is critical and we are proud to partner with Taisho as a key part of that. Taisho’s genuine passion for rugby is demonstrated through their support of the national rugby team and Japan’s love for the game both on and off the field was really reinforced after Rugby World Cup 2019. We look forward to engaging and growing those communities alongside Taisho over the course of the partnership.
Taisho Pharmaceutical Chief Executive Officer Shigeru Uehara, commented:
"It is a tremendous honour to become a Premium Global Partner to an organisation with the heritage of New Zealand Rugby, a role that presents the opportunity to engage with a world-leading rugby culture and participate in various global-level rugby events. With their high profile in Japan, we see the All Blacks as a team of great interest to rugby players and fans alike, and we believe this partnership will help to significantly boost the popularity of rugby in Japan, making more people aware of the appeal of rugby by bringing top-level performance one step closer to the Japanese public."
Taisho’s Premium Global Partnership extends to NZR’s Teams in Black, including All Blacks, Black Ferns, All Blacks Sevens, Black Ferns Sevens, Māori All Blacks, All Blacks XV and New Zealand Under 20’s.
Partnership commences January 2022, with Taisho Pharmaceutical the:
- Premium Global Partner of New Zealand Rugby
- Premium Global Partner of the All Blacks
- Premium Global Partner of the Black Ferns
- Official Partner of the All Blacks
- Official Partner of the Black Ferns
- Official Title Partner of the Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship
- Official Sponsor in New Zealand and Japan of RWC2021 (played in 2022)
- Lipovitan-D as the official energy drink of the Teams in Black
About Taisho Pharmaceutical
Taisho Pharmaceutical was founded in the early twentieth century, a time when medical standards and personal nutrition in Japan was still lacking. It was developed to support healthier living and illness prevention through over the counter (OTC) drugs. Since their foundation in 1912, Taisho have been at the forefront of life science research and pharmaceutical development.
Taisho believes that sports are a culture and that the development of sports leads to healthy physical and mental development. It is Taisho’s corporate mission as a pharmaceutical company to work closely with sports. Taisho has been involved in rugby for the last 20 years, supporting the future development of rugby.
About Lipovitan-D
One of the oldest energy drink brands, the Lipovitan Series was launched in 1962 with taurine as its primary ingredient. Exports began in 1963, and today the Lipovitan series is available in 12 countries. (Known in some countries as Livita or Libogen).
