Japanese gas appliances company Rinnai signed on as partner of Super Rugby side Queensland Reds for the '16 season.
The company’s logo will feature on the collar of the team's jersey (Queensland Reds). ... German 3rd League football club VfR Aalen and its marketing partner Lagardère Sports Germany -- previously Sportfive -- have reached a mutual agreement to end their contract immediately. The contract was set to expire on March 31. Lagardère Sports became Aalen's marketing partner in '12. The club will take over its marketing (Lagardère Sports). ... Marc Marquez's management confirmed that Valentino Rossi's VR46 Racing clothing company "will no longer supply the Spaniard's merchandising in 2016." Two-time MotoGP champion Marquez, as well as younger brother and Moto2 rider Alex, "have instead signed a multi-year merchandising deal with Gruppo Pritelli."
The Italian company "already supplies merchandise to a number of other MotoGP riders, most notably Jorge Lorenzo" (MOTORSPORT, 2/8). ... Chelsea announced Beats by Dr. Dre as its new and first ever official sound partner.
Beats by Dr. Dre was founded in '06 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine and is the global market leader in the premium headphone market (Chelsea). ... Car retailer Barretts is Kent Cricket’s new training kit partner.
The logo of the Kentish family business will appear on the first team squad’s Samurai Sportswear training kit from '16.
As part of the partnerships, the club's vehicle fleet will be leased through Barretts (Kent Cricket). ... British Gymnastics partnered with gymnastic equipment manufacturer Gymnova. Gymnova will become an official supplier of gymnastic equipment to the organization (ISPORTCONNECT, 2/8). ... Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) club Bayreuth has extended its title sponsorship deal with health products manufacturer medi for another two years (medi Bayreuth). ... The Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell tennis tournament signed an agreement with Estrella Damm that makes the Barcelona-based brand the official beer of the event from this year through ’19. Estrella Damm will offer fans attending the Barcelona Open an area where they can drink Estrella Damm’s beers with their meals (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 2/8).
