Gambling Operator PMU Partners With French Football, Rugby Clubs For '16-17 Season

French state-owned gambling operator Paris Mutuel Urbain will enter the '16-17 football and rugby seasons "with eight high coverage club partnerships," according to Ted Menmuir of SBC NEWS. Committed to "raising its brand profile within French sports," PMU has secured partnerships with French football clubs RC Lens, Strasbourg, Rennes and Stade Lavallois. Its marketing partnerships’ with French rugby clubs "will see PMU partner with Racing 92 Paris, Stade Toulousain, Toulon Rugby and Lyon Lou Rugby." PMU said that the partnerships "would be an integral part" of promoting its over 13,000 retail-point network and growing its online betting services (SBC NEWS, 7/19). SPORTBUZZ BUSINESS' Alexandre Bailleul reported in its partnership with RC Lens, "PMU will become a shorts sponsor for the club." The PMU logo "will not appear on the kits of the other clubs" (SPORTBUZZ BUSINESS, 7/19).