National Rugby League Cronulla Sharks will announce a stadium naming-rights partner in coming weeks, while apparel sponsor Blades extended its deal until the end of '14. The club "has been without a stadium sponsor since parting with Toyota at the end of last season." Club officials said in February they had a "major company" lined up to take over the sponsorship at the start of the season. However, they pulled out when the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority drugs scandal broke. Sharks Commercial Dir Pat Woods said, "We are down to the pointy end of discussions in regards to several key sponsorship assets and hope to have these locked away prior to our next home game" (Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH, 4/19). ... Land Rover North America announced it will become the official team sponsor of the 2013 Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Club to be held in the U.S. on May 15. The annual polo fundaiser, which raises awareness and support for the improved healthcare and education of children in Lesotho, Africa, will host Prince Harry and Argentine polo player Nacho Figueras (Land Rover). ... Outdoor equipment suppplier Jack Wolfskin has reached a sponsorship agreement with Premier League clubs FC Fulham, West Bromwich, West Ham, Swansea City, Norwich City and Aston Villa (Jack Wolfskin). ... Chinese auto company Lifan Motors has awarded a Lifan model 620 automobile to Ethiopian national football team coach Sewunet Bishaw (XINHUA, 4/19). ... Pirelli is planning to sell off a '11 HRT F1 car "in a charity auction on eBay" because nobody in the Italian tire company wants to use it for promotional purposes (REUTERS, 4/20).
