Hockeyroos sign sponsorship deal with Ausdrill

Covered: Jade Close(l) and Casey Eastham model the Hockeyroos new penalty corner pretection - Daniel Carson DC Images. Click for more pictures

The Hockeyroos 2012 campaign has been significantly boosted, after signing a major two-year sponsorship deal, with a globally recognised company.

Hockey Australia chief executive Mark Anderson announced today’s signing of Ausdrill as the first multi-year partnership since the teams gold medal success in 2000.

"I am extremely pleased to announce Ausdrill as a major sponsor for the Hockeyroos for the next two years. There is little doubt that the Hockeyroos are making significant progress as a team. This announcement is a genuine lift for the team, in what is our biggest year of competition,'' Mr Anderson said.

"The support and confidence shown by Ausdrill has had a significant positive impact on the team. Players, coaches and staff have all commented to me that the confidence shown in them by a company such as Ausdrill is further confirmation that we are on track in our quest to become the best hockey team in the world.

"We greatly appreciate Ausdrill’s support and look forward to rewarding them with success, as we build a partnership over the coming years."

Ausdrill managing director Ron Sayers said he was committed to supporting our athletes and recognised the sacrifices elite players made to compete at the highest level.

The two-year deal with an option for both parties to extend is a major coup for our national women’s team.

"Like most Australians, we have watched the Hockeyroos’ success over many years with a great deal of pride.  Ausdrill is therefore delighted to be coming on board to support the team in what is shaping up to be a very big year in the sport,"  Mr Sayers said.

The Hockeyroos are regarded as an Australian icon having won the Australian Team of the Year on five occasions. The team is definitely on the rise and they are gearing up for a return to their former glory.

The Hockeyroos have proved they can still defeat the top teams in the world on their day after downing the Netherlands and Germany, ranked one and three in the world in January this year.

Mr Sayers said he was proud to associate his brand with the Hockeyroos and hoped their partnership would spur the team on to more international success.

"Every member of the Ausdrill team will be getting right behind the Hockeyroos and we are now looking at ways to ensure some of our loyal, long-serving employees have the chance to see the team in action during 2012,” Mr Sayers said.

Ausdrill is a diversified mining services company with operations in Australia, Africa and the United Kingdom.  The company specialises in providing services in contract mining, grade control, drill and blast, exploration, mineral analysis, procurement, logistics and manufacturing.  The Ausdrill Group employs over 5000 staff worldwide.