New Zealand

The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand will be the first in history to make a profit despite the series already being lost in the wake of last weekend's second Test defeat in Wellington.

Quintus, the sports and entertainment group, has acquired Three-D-Signs International, the company that owns the worldwide patents to 3-D surface branding.

Setanta Sports is now available via GlobeCast WorldTV, a leading source of international satellite programming in the US.

Television broadcaster Seven Network Holdings Ltd. has secured rights to broadcast rugby union test matches in Australia from 2006-2010.

Real Madrid footballer Luis Figo is one of the owners of the Portuguese motor racing team which will compete in the new A1 Grand Prix series.

Brian van Rooyen will remain as president of the South African Rugby Union, with almost all his management committee retaining their positions, following a turbulent few weeks.

The Millennium Stadium will host the Heineken Cup final in May 2006, the second time it has hosted the climax to European rugby’s top club competition.

Land Rover will be ‘Official Vehicle to the British & Irish Lions’ Rugby Union team for this summer’s tour to New Zealand.

Travelex, the world’s largest foreign exchange specialist, has signed England rugby international Jonny Wilkinson as a brand ambassador.

Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWCL) has confirmed the receipt of tenders from Japan, New Zealand and South Africa to host the 2011 World Cup.

British Lions Limited and Octagon Marketing says the forthcoming tour to New Zealand will be the most commercially successful in the history of Lions rugby.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has confirmed it will be bidding to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

SportBusiness has seen an encouraging uptake of its consolidated weekly news feed.

Vodafone and Sportev have agreed a partnership to offer multimedia content from the English Premier League to mobile customers in New Zealand.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has avoided scheduling matches close to the Afghan border for security reasons in a proposed itinerary for England's tour sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Global consumer product company Gillette, has renewed its sponsorship of Rugby League’s Tri-Nations tournament involving Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.