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This Week in Sponsorship is Scout’s free weekly wrap-up of the latest deals in AUS/NZ sponsorship. Check out previous articles, or sign up if you were forwarded this email.

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25th February 2026

This Week In Sponsorship

Highlights

Apparel partnerships continue to be announced in the build-up to AFL, NRL and Super Netball seasons, including:

  • DriversDepot x Melbourne FC

  • AUCyber x St Kilda

  • Jellis Craig x Melbourne Vixens

  • University of Queensland x Firebirds (renewal)

  • Atlas Building (WA) x Perth Bears (from 2027)

Revolut entered the Australian sponsorship market with Hawthorn FC, just a week after new announcements from Airwallex (Blues) and Corpay (LIV Golf). Sign up to Scout Pro to see which other cross-border payment provider made Scout’s Brands To Watch last week.

Other new sponsorship entrants include MUFG Pension & Market Services x Swans, OMF x St Kilda, and Valvoline Global x BP Adelaide Grand Final.

Brand To Watch

Brands To Watch is a weekly list of 8-10 Brands primed for future sponsorship activity, based on recent sponsorship dynamics, exclusive to Scout Pro readers.

See example below.

  • Why: Harcourts may be open to sponsorship opportunities in light of competitor activity, after new deals in the last week for Ray White (NZ Rugby) and Jellis Craig (Melbourne Vixens).

  • Context: Real Estate has been one of the fastest-growing sponsorship categories in the last 12 months, mainly from Ray White, adding Crows, Swans, Magpies, Firebirds & more. Harcourts signed with Melbourne Demons from 2026, coming after a 5 year hiatus with no new sponsorship announcements (since Melbourne United in 2020).

  • So what: With competitors continuing to invest, and current portfolio heavily skewed to Melbourne, Harcourts may consider opportunities with Sydney or Brisbane-based clubs. These are the other major markets where they face most competition (and previously held sponsorships).

Upgrade to Scout Pro for the entire list of Brands To Watch this week.

Sponsorship opportunities

Scout is proud to promote an exciting new sponsorship opportunity with the Australian Steelers and Wheelchair Rugby Australia.

One of Australia’s most successful national sporting teams is currently without a sponsor. Instead of treating that as a setback, Wheelchair Rugby Australia has turned it into a platform for innovation. Their “Officially Unsponsored” campaign flips traditional sports sponsorship on its head.


The Australian Steelers have come out in all-white kits with a QR code to their SponsorSHOP in place of a sponsor logo – providing a transparent, digital marketplace outlining real partnership opportunities. Check it out here.

Activity this week

This Week In Sponsorship

Announcements

AFL 🎽

New

  • 💊 PILLAR Performance x Gold Coast SUNS: "We are thrilled to welcome proudly Australian brand PILLAR Performance as the club’s new Official Sports Nutrition Partner... to optimise nutrition and supplementation strategies across both our AFL and AFLW programs."

  • 💳 Revolut x Hawthorn Football Club: "Hawthorn is thrilled to unveil a new collaboration with global financial technology company Revolut."

  • 🚛 DriversDepot x Melbourne Football Club: "Excited to confirm the addition of DriversDepot as our new co principal partner, taking pride of place on the back of our guernsey in 2026."

  • 💻 AUCyber x St Kilda Football Club: "St Kilda is proud to announce AUCyber as its newest Platinum Partner, with the Australian cyber security and secure cloud provider joining the club ahead of the 2026 AFL season."

  • 🛌 OMF Australia x St Kilda Football Club: "We're proud to announce OMF Australia as our Official Recovery Partner, supporting our focus on performance, recovery and overall wellbeing."

  • 🏦 MUFG Pension & Market Services x Sydney Swans: "We are proud to announce that we have teamed up with MUFG Pension & Market Services, with the global financial administration provider becoming a Premier Partner of the club."

  • 🏠 Nostra Homes x Western Bulldogs: "The Western Bulldogs are pleased to welcome Nostra Homes as a Platinum Partner of the Club, across AFL and AFLW programs."

Renewal

  • 🏛️ City of Launceston x Hawthorn Football Club: "Hawthorn is delighted to strengthen its partnership with the City of Launceston as a Premier Partner ahead of the 2026 season."

Rugby League 👕

New

  • 🏗️ Atlas Building (WA) x Perth Bears: "Another iconic West Australian company has partnered with the Perth Bears – with ATLAS BUILDING (WA) signing on!"

  • 🧱 Deicorp x South Sydney Rabbitohs: "We're excited to announce that Deicorp has joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs as our newest commercial partner for the 2026 NRL season and beyond."

Renewal

  • 📈 PKF x Newcastle Knights: "The Knights are proud to announce a renewed partnership with financial powerhouse PKF, ensuring the long-standing relationship will continue until the end of 2027."

Rugby Union 🏉

New

  • 📡 Tait Communications x Crusaders: "We are so proud to announce today a partnership with legendary Christchurch, and global communications brand Tait Communications, as our exclusive critical communications partner."

  • 🤝 Sentify x Hurricanes: "Sentify has been appointed as the Official Teamwork Partner of the Hurricanes, marking a partnership built around what sits behind every great performance: people working well together."

  • 👕 SKINS™ Compression x Moana Pasifika: "Moana Pasifika welcomes SKINS™ Compression to the aiga as the team’s Official Compression Sportswear Partner."

  • 🏡 Ray White x New Zealand Rugby: "Ray White has become the Official New Zealand Real Estate Partner of New Zealand Rugby, supporting the All Blacks and Black Ferns through a newly signed three-year agreement."

Motorsport 🏁

New

  • 🛢️ Valvoline Global x bp Adelaide Grand Final: "The bp Adelaide Grand Final has today announced Valvoline Global as an Official Partner of Australia’s largest domestic motorsport event and the Repco Supercars Championship Grand Final, with the globally recognised lubricant brand securing a four-year partnership that places it at the heart of the on-track and fan experience."

  • TotalEnergies x Erebus Motorsport: "Erebus Motorsport is proud to announce TotalEnergies as the naming rights partner of Cooper Murray’s #99 Chevrolet Camaro for the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship season."

  • 🎓 RMIT University x Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix: "Additionally, today we announced a three-year partnership with RMIT University as a supporter of our Team of Tomorrow program, and to bring more students into STEM through the motorsport industry."

  • 🧪 GMG Ltd x Tickford Racing: "Tickford Racing today announces a new partnership with Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd., aligning two performance-led organisations around a shared belief."

  • 💡 NARVA x Tickford Racing: "Tickford Racing is excited to announce a new partnership with NARVA. The collaboration brings together two Australian brands with a shared commitment to performance, innovation and reliability."

Renewal

  • 💄 MECCA MAX x Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix: "MECCA MAX has announced it will return to the Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix™ in 2026 as the Official Beauty Partner."

  • 🏎️ Shannons / Subaru x Supercars: "Shannons Insurance is once again throwing its support behind Supercars Safety Car program, while Subaru becomes the exclusive supplier of all on-track support vehicles."

  • 🚗 Thrifty x Supercars: "Supercars today announced the renewal of Thrifty Australia as its Official Car Rental Partner, a two-year extension that will mark the partnership's fifth season."

  • 🧹 Super Spill Solutions x Tickford Racing: "Tickford Racing is proud to announce the return of Super Spill Solutions for the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship season, reinforcing a partnership built on preparedness, compliance, and rapid response."

Football ⚽

New

  • 🚙 Isuzu UTE Australia x Football Australia: "We’re delighted to announce a landmark multi-year partnership with Isuzu UTE Australia as the official automotive partner of Australia’s iconic national teams."

  • 🎓 Ascham School x Sydney FC: "Sydney FC is proud to announce a partnership with Ascham School which will deliver the school’s first female only football program with the Sky Blues."

Renewal

  • 🛡️ Hoplite x Newcastle Jets: "The Newcastle Jets are delighted to announce Hoplite are returning as an Official Academy Partner for the 2026 season."

  • SipEnergy x Sydney FC: "Sydney FC is proud to announce the renewal of its partnership with SipEnergy, who will be continuing as the club’s Official Energy Partner."

Netball 🏐

New

  • 🏘️ Jellis Craig x Melbourne Vixens / Netball Victoria: "We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Jellis Craig to the Netball Victoria family as our official real estate partner."

Renewal

  • 🏫 The University of Queensland x Netball Queensland & Queensland Firebirds: "We're proud to announce The University of Queensland has renewed its Premier Partnership with Netball Queensland and the Queensland Firebirds for a further three years."

Hockey 🏑

New

  • 🏋️ Zap Fitness 24/7 x Hockey Australia: "We’re proud to have partnered with Zap Fitness 24/7 for the Hobart Pro League."

  • 🧠 HITIQ x Hockey Australia: "We’re proud to announce a new three-year partnership with HITIQ, strengthening our commitment to player wellbeing and best-practice safety standards across the sport."

Paralympics 🏅

Renewal

  • 🛒 Harvey Norman x Paralympics Australia: "Paralympics Australia and Harvey Norman have re-committed to their long-standing partnership, continuing to support our Winter Paralympians and the Paralympic Movement across Australia."

Softball 🥎

Renewal

  • 💻 revolutioniseSPORT x Softball Australia: "We’re proud to extend our partnership with revolutioniseSPORT, reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation and the future of Softball Australia."

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