New Exeter Chiefs shirt sponsor hails new era for local business

A new sponsor on the Exeter Chiefs shirts for the 2023/24 season hails a new era for established business IT and communications provider swcomms.

After 30 years of sponsoring Exeter Chiefs, the swcomms name will be replaced by Focus Group’s logo in line with their brand integration.

UK-wide independent provider of essential business technology Focus Group is the new main sponsor of Exeter Chiefs’ women’s team. Focus Group branding will also prominently feature on the men’s shirt and will be around the stadium grounds at Sandy Park.

swcomms’ managing director Brian Lodge said: “This is start of an exciting new era for us all under the new Focus brand. We remain a company that has supported the club for three decades and South West businesses for even longer. We are especially delighted to feature on the women’s shirt to support their continued success and their important influence as positive role-models for young grassroots players.”

swcomms was acquired by Focus Group, based in Shoreham-by-Sea, in February 2021. Focus Group has invested in several other IT and communications businesses in recent years and now has three regional offices and 13 locations across the UK.

Mr Lodge added: “Our exciting new future will see us operate as the South West regional hub of Focus Group. We have been working in this way for more than two years already and the last part of the journey is to complete the switch to the Focus Group brand by November. Our Exeter Chiefs sponsorship is the first step on this journey with our office signage, vehicles and uniforms next in line.

“Our team will continue to work out of Communications House in Sowton, so we can support South West businesses with their IT and communications needs as we have done for the past 40 years.”

Exeter Chiefs Chairman & CEO Tony Rowe CBE commented, “Our relationship with swcomms is one of the finest commercial sporting partnerships in the country, and to see this continuing with new parent company Focus Group, further secures our long association.

We are thrilled to see Focus Group taking pride of place as front of shirt partner for our Women’s team in 23/24. The development and success of the Exeter Chiefs Women is a source of immense pride of our club, and it is fantastic to see businesses recognising the importance of celebrating women’s rugby as well as the commercial opportunities that this presents.

We look forward to continuing our affiliation with Focus Group in the future and thank them for their support.

The swcomms website, contact details and social media channels will still be in use until November.