Ausdrill sponsors Hockeyroos

MINING services company Ausdrill has signed on as a major sponsor of the Hockeyroos, the Australian women’s hockey team, in a two-year deal that ends a decade-long search for financial backing.

The move by Ausdrill is the second significant move by a mining-related company to back a national hockey team. The men’s team, the Kookaburras, recently added Fortescue Metals Group as a sponsor when the company became the naming rights partner for Hockey Australia’s national indigenous program.

India’s Lanco Infratech, which owns the former Griffin coalmines, has also sponsored a recent hockey series in Perth.

The Hockeyroos sponsorship comes as Ausdrill founder and managing director Ron Sayers is defending charges of tax evasion. 

He remains front and centre at the company, leading this week’s sponsorship announcement, including a photoshoot with the team, which is led by captain Madonna Blyth (pictured, right, with Mr Sayers).

The women’s team has lacked major long-term sponsor since Telstra ended an 11-year relationship following the Hockeyroos gold medal in Sydney.   

Hockey Australia chief executive Mark Anderson said the signing in Perth of Ausdrill had buoyed the team and its management as a confidence-booster ahead of the London Olympic Games later this year. Mr Sayers said in a statement that Ausdrill recognised the sacrifices elite players made to compete at the highest level.

“Like most Australians, we have watched the Hockeyroos’ success over many years with a great deal of pride. Ausdrill is delighted to be coming on board to support the team in what is shaping up to be a very big year,” he said.

The two-year deal has an option for both parties to extend.

Ausdrill specialises in providing services in contract mining, grade control, drill and blast, exploration, mineral analysis, procurement, logistics and manufacturing. It employs more than 5,000 staff worldwide.