Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has welcomed the Harlequins and England rugby star Ugo Monye to Abu Dhabi.
Ugo, who was the leading try scorer for the British and Irish Lion’s on their recent tour to South Africa, is the latest in a series of world famous sport stars to visit the UAE’s capital thanks to Etihad’s growing sports sponsorship portfolio.
Last week Manchester City Football Club manager Mark Hughes and players Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Gareth Barry and Stephen Ireland paid a visit to Abu Dhabi to launch the new club kit featuring for the first time the Etihad Airways logo.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ chief commercial officer, said: “Etihad Airways is delighted to welcome Ugo to Abu Dhabi. He enjoyed a hugely impressive tour to South Africa with the British and Irish Lions and so he’s earned some time to relax here in the UAE.”
Etihad launched its sponsorship with Harlequins in July 2007 and the partnership has gone from strength to strength with the London-based team climbing its way up the Guinness Premiership each season, just missing out on the play-off final in May this year.
Through its partnership with Harlequins Etihad also hosted the first edition of its rugby schools in Abu Dhabi at the end of last year. Hundreds of youngsters learned new skills and improved their play with the support and guidance of Harlequins head coach Dean Richards, England player David Strettle and club captain Will Skinner.
Ugo Monye said: “My Harlequins team mates, who have visited Abu Dhabi, told me it’s a great place and they’re absolutely right. The city has a real buzz and I am looking forward to coming here again very soon, especially for some winter training.”
Among other highlights of the partnership is the branding of the Harlequins stadium roof, which is placed under the London Heathrow airport flight path, in Etihad livery. The East Stand of the Twickenham Stoop was also been renamed the Etihad Stand.
Etihad Airways has built up an impressive portfolio of international sponsorship partners which includes the Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Ferrari Formula 1™ team, Manchester City Football Club, the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championships, Chelsea Football Club, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships and the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
