Brains extends Wales shirt deal to 2009

Leading Welsh brewer Brains has renewed its sponsorship of the national rugby team.

The deal means the Brains logo will remain on the Wales team's jerseys until September 2009.

The famous red-coloured home shirt will feature the Brains SA logo while the away one will display SA Gold - one of Brains' top cask ale brands.

The shirt sponsorship is part of a wider deal that means Brains has dispensing rights to serve Brains Smooth and its continental style beer '45' at the Millennium Stadium until 2012.

Richard Davies, Brains sales and marketing director said: "We are delighted to announce the extension of our relationship with the Welsh Rugby Union for a further four year term.

"This will enable us to promote our key brand SA and our fastest growing brand, SA Gold."

Welsh Rugby Union Group chief executive, Roger Lewis, said: "We are proud to be associated with a company which represents success in Wales.

"Brains is based on strong tradition combined with modern thinking and strong commercial drive which echoes what we are achieving within the professional game."

Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering added: "The contract extension with Brains is a great boost for Welsh rugby. The creative partnership established with Brains has been the envy of other rugby playing nations."

Wales and Brains have had a long association in an era that has included Grand Slam success in 2005 and 2008.