Etihad eyes unique ‘premiership double’

Etihad Airways is on the brink of a unique sporting double as rugby union partner, Harlequins, looks to emulate the airline’s football partner, Manchester City, by winning the English Premiership title.
Harlequins will play the biggest match in the club’s history when they take on Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership Final in front of a sell-out 82,000 fans at London’s Twickenham Stadium.
Victory for “the Quins” would complete a perfect season for Etihad Airways, following Manchester City’s epic 3-2 win against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season recently.
James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president and chief executive officer, said: “Etihad Airways sends Harlequins the very best of wishes for Saturday’s final and we congratulate them on a fantastic league campaign. It is rare for the main sponsor of teams in different sports to celebrate league success in the same season and it will be fantastic if the Quins can follow Manchester City and lift the Premiership trophy.”
Harlequins, who recently flew to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways for a pre-final break, had cause for celebration with fly-half Nick Evans being crowned “Players’ Player of the Year” this week.
Evans followed in the footsteps of Captain Chris Robshaw who was named Aviva Premiership Player of the Year.
Five Harlequins players including Robshaw were also named in the ESPN dream team for the 2011/12 season.
The fellow Harlequins players are Joe Marler, Mike Brown, George Lowe and Nick Easter.
Etihad Airways has been the shirt sponsor of Harlequins since 2007 with the current deal running until 2014.
In addition to sponsoring Manchester City and Harlequins, Etihad Airways is also sponsor of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship, the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.