GB Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) is excited to announce the appointment of leading sports marketing company TLA Worldwide. As the dynamic, inclusive and exhilarating Paralympic sport prepares for Tokyo, TLA’s full-service brief focuses on the delivery of new commercial partners, supporting GBWR’s nationwide community of clubs, its growing youth programme, and its development of new disciplines of the sport, further building its profile through the creation of innovative new content and high-profile media exposure.
Wheelchair rugby is a London 2012 legacy success story; since the home Games, the sport has grown dramatically from a domestic league with a single division to one which now has three divisions and is internationally recognised for its high level of competition. With the strong emergence of the team following the challenges that have been faced during lockdown, and the countdown to the Paralympics now firmly on, GBWR has silverware in sight in Tokyo this summer where the team is optimistic its hard work and commitment will result in a medal. Podium success will mark a significant turning point for the sport as it continues its long-term strategic development from its growth and investment at grassroots to elite level nationwide.
The appointment of TLA as GBWR’s commercial partnership procurement and management agency also sees the team take on a PR and marketing role that encompasses content creation and digital support. Led by TLA’s Head of UK Paul Roberts, the team will bring significant experience to the table and will work closely with the GBWR team, to help secure, retain and manage corporate partners, whilst also integrating with the sport’s wider commercial strategy.
David Pond, CEO of GB Wheelchair Rugby, believes this appointment marks a key milestone at a critical and very exciting time for the organisation:
“To partner with a global agency like TLA is a sign of the real ambition both our Board and TLA share for the future of our sport. In all of our discussions with the TLA team we were bowled over by their energy and passion. This is an agency that works with top brands, businesses, teams and athletes all over the world. We are excited about the ideas they have for supporting our clubs, growing our digital and media presence and helping us to find new commercial partners who share our values and dreams.”
Paul Roberts, Head of TLA in the UK, is thrilled with the new appointment believing it represents the future of client partnerships within the agency:
“Our most successful partnerships benefit from our integrated approach where our commercial, talent, events, PR and digital and creative teams come together to develop tailored campaigns that deliver genuine results. By working with us, GBWR will immediately share in our 20 + years’ experience with global brands, sports teams and businesses. Our portfolio of clients and commercial partnerships, both in the UK and globally, enables us to deliver end to end across a wide range of sports, businesses and industries and we are extremely proud to add GBWR to our client list.
“GBWR’s values – to be inclusive, accessible and supportive of all who wish to be part of the sport – are ones we strongly support and identify with. We thoroughly enjoyed the pitching process, getting to know the talented members of the team and its’ Board, and we look forward to supporting GBWR’s excellent work with youth teams and injured service people and sharing some of the truly emotive and inspirational stories of the players as the world prepares once again to celebrate the pinnacle of all global sporting events.”
