New Zealand Rugby Putting Out Feelers For Japanese Corporate Sponsor

New Zealand Rugby is "putting out feelers for a Japanese corporate sponsor, betting that the debut of rugby at the Rio Olympics next year and Japan's hosting of the Rugby World Cup in 2019 will stoke interest in the game," according to Suze Metherell of the NATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW. NZ Rugby Union Chair Brent Impey said the board was working to maximize revenue to invest in the national sport. NZRU CEO Steve Tew said that sponsorship opportunities in Asia "were on the union's mind." Tew: "We still hold an ambition to have a significant commercial sponsorship relationship with a Japanese company. We've made a number of offers to help around 2019 but that is led by World Rugby and we've got to be very respectful of that relationship." NZ Rugby returned to profitability in '13, after posting annual losses since '08. The organization has "focused on ways to make the game more profitable." Impey said, "We know the challenges to grow commercial revenue, we know to get more fans through the gate and contain costs are ever present for all of us" (NATIONAL BUSINESS REVIEW, 4/23).