Rival Extends Partnerships Portfolio to Include Professional Rugby with Dragons RFC

NEW YORK (Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022) – Dragons Rugby Football Club of the United Rugby Championship (URC) today announced the launch of its online gaming community with fan engagement platform Rival.

The Wales-based rugby club will leverage Rival’s gaming platform to facilitate esports tournaments, activities and experiences across a variety of game titles including FIFA, Call of Duty: Warzone and Rugby 22.

“We are delighted to partner with Rival and become the first professional rugby organization to join their platform,” said Ben Lucey, the Club’s Head of Operations. “Our move into esports has been months in the making, with extensive work being put in behind the scenes. The missing piece was to connect fans and gamers with Dragons RFC by offering them a platform in which they can compete in tournaments run by the club on the titles they love. Rival was the perfect platform for this, and we are thrilled at the partnership and what it has to offer.”

The Dragons online gaming community will host its first tournament on Sept. 22 with Call of Duty: Warzone, with a Rugby 22 tournament planned for October. Throughout the season, there will also be Rival Points up for grabs for a variety of rewards including autographed merchandise, tickets to events and other experiences.

“This launch marks Rival’s first with a professional Rugby organization and we look forward to powering the Dragons’ gaming community with its lineup of diverse programming, tournaments and experiences,” said Rival Chief Marketing Officer Dan Parise.

The Dragons gaming community launches today and players can register at www.rivalgames.com/dragonsrfc.

Rival powers the gaming communities of more than 40 partners worldwide, across sports properties, media, tech, and brands, including organizations across NFL, NBA, NHL, MLS and English Premier League.