By Patrick Avenell

SYDNEY, NSW: De’Longhi Australia has strengthened its association with the South Sydney Rabbitohs rugby league club, with the Kenwood brand now the major training sponsor for the 2011 NRL season. De’Longhi has been the away shirt sponsor for the last two full seasons.

Under the new agreement, the Kenwood logo and branding will appear on Souths’ training apparel and playing shorts. The De’Longhi branding will continue to grace the front of the Rabbitohs’ jersey in away matches and the back of the jersey in home matches.

South Sydney CEO Shane Richardson said this sponsorship will connect well with the famous club’s female following.

“We’re delighted to welcome Kenwood on board as a major corporate partner of the club for 2011 and we’re excited about adding another global brand to our portfolio of major and senior corporate partners,” Richardson said.

“Kenwood has a large focus on females and young people so we’re delighted to connect them to our female supporter base and our many families who all support the Rabbitohs.

“However, we’ll be working with Kenwood to show our male supporters the way around the kitchen after coming home from the footy too. Kenwood products really are for the whole family, the whole Rabbitohs family.”

De’Longhi Australia and Kenwood CEO Paolo Albertoni expressed delight at this new association.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have Kenwood join the Rabbitohs,” Albertoni said.

“We love the fact that families can come together at meal time using Kenwood products and families can come together at the football watching the Rabbitohs play as well. To be honest we really feel we are part of the Rabbitohs family here in Australia.”

The South Sydney club is the most successful in Australian rugby league history, having won 20 premierships. St George Illawarra, however, have now won a combined 16 titles, meaning Dragons fans everywhere are hopeful of one day knowing the Bunnies off their perch.

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