The multinational information technology services and consulting company, Capgemini, has inked a sponsorship association with the Indian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) to lend a hand to its Rugby 7s teams.
With this association, the company has ventured into the Indian market and has enhanced its presence in the sport.
In this collaboration, Capgemini will play a big hand in backing IRFU’s plan of promoting and growing the sport in the country.
Speaking on the association, Ashwin Yardi, CEO of Capgemini in India said, “At Capgemini the principles of diversity and inclusion are a source of creativity, innovation, and inspiration for us. To further strengthen our commitment, we are delighted to partner with IRFU on Rugby 7s as this marks a new chapter in our association with Rugby and our first entry into sports in India. At Capgemini we are a people business, and this association reflects our core brand values of team spirit and fun, coupled with our commitment to creating inclusive workplaces.”
The President of Rugby India Rahul Bose, said, “The story of the growth of Rugby as a sport in India is a story of diversity and inclusion. Today our women’s program is as strong as our men’s, our outreach to tribal youth in different parts of the country is as deep as in non-tribal areas. Our commitment to spreading the sport amongst underprivileged populations is as sharp as it is to those who live in more fortunate circumstances. Therefore, to partner with Capgemini who uphold the principles of diversity and inclusion, was a natural decision. Their values mirror ours. And it is with their belief and support that Rugby India pledges to a greater commitment to these values on our path to excellence and garnering laurels for the country.”
Sarika Naik, Chief Marketing Officer and Chairperson of Diversity at Capgemini in India added, “Sports bring people together through shared experiences and drive exceptional engagement particularly with the younger audiences. Most athletes in India come from tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Through this collaboration, we aim to give this sport a fillip and make it more mainstream. Our goal is to motivate more people to play the game and thus provide a path ahead to Get the Future They Want. Rugby India’s ‘Get into Rugby’ program is aimed to make the sport accessible to children of all genders and backgrounds. It is perfectly aligned with our core values and the principles of diversity and inclusion that are at the heart of Capgemini.”
Capgemini has already been roped in as the official worldwide partner of World Rugby.