National Rugby League side Canberra Raiders "wants to continue Huawei’s longest-ever sports sponsorship" despite the brand's ban from Australia’s 5G networks and "legal wrangle" with the U.S., according to Rod McGuirk of the AP. Huawei has been the major sponsor of the Raiders since '12 and will "consider this year extending its first sponsorship contract with a sports team anywhere in the world." Raiders CEO Don Furner said that relations between the sponsor and the team "had not been affected" by recent U.S. criminal charges against Huawei. Furner: "We are proud to carry their logo on the front of our jersey and our relationship has been nothing but positive from the first season they were with us until now." Huawei’s three-year sponsorship deal, which includes displaying the Huawei logo "prominently" on the Raiders’ uniform, expires when the '19 season ends in September. The Australian government "struck Huawei another commercial blow in August" by excluding the company from playing any part in 5G networks that are being rolled out across Australia this year. Huawei spokesperson Jeremy Mitchell said that the 5G ban "would figure in the company’s discussions" on whether extending the Raiders’ sponsorship "aligns with our business going forward" (AP, 1/31).
