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Announcement – Fijian Drua and InCrowd

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The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and InCrowd launch new website and extend managed services collaboration through 2024 season.

This latest update includes the addition of a selection of brand new features to the Drua website to drive even better experiences for Drua fans whilst complimenting and creating more cohesion with marketing delivery from InCrowd’s managed services team.

The new look, mobile friendly website is powered by InCrowd’s Content Management System (CMS) and is fully integrated with live sports data feeds from RugbyViz. This latest update brings real-time scores, player stats, breaking news, polls and a live blog directly to Fijian Drua fans. For the Drua digital team, forms and personalisation tools drive the capture data and more specific targeting of content. The new website also gives prominence to the Fijiana Drua, the current Super W champions, highlighting women’s fixtures, results and player profiles. 

With the 2024 Super Rugby Season now up and running, InCrowd are also excited to extend their collaboration with Drua across the planning and delivery of email marketing services which has so far seen an increase of 3.8% click through rate vs 2023. InCrowd’s Digital and Data Services team have also helped the Drua elevate their usage of the polls tool to spotlight leading commercial partner activations such as the ANZ form based predictor and TUIVT Fan Player Of The Match, which has led to a growth of 16% in their marketable database over the first month of the new season, of which 25% is now made up of international fans.

“We are really excited to take our digital transformation to the next level by launching the new Drua website alongside our continued collaboration with InCrowd across our marketing services.”, says Fijian Drua’s Head of Commercial and Marketing, Shane Hussein.”

“We maintain a shared focus on delivering the very best experiences for our fans, enabled by InCrowd’s deep understanding of how unique the club and its fanbase are. The team is fully invested in our success both on and off the pitch and we are looking forward to continuing our great work together.”

“To work with the Drua and see the club and fanbase grow so quickly over the last few years has been incredible” says InCrowd’s AU/NZ Head Of Partnerships Jack Eggleston. “The atmosphere at home games is truly special. We are excited to continue helping Drua carry that feeling through to their digital platforms, enabling the club to better connect with their fans and create equally great experiences for both local and international members of the Fijian Drua vuvale.”

About The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, Fiji’s very own Super Rugby franchise continue to make waves in the one of the world’s toughest professional club rugby competitions. The dream to have a Fijian Club in Super Rugby was born 25 years ago, and finally became a reality in February 2022. The club may be relatively new, but with very strong roots. Fijian Rugby itself is 108 years old, and Fijian teams and players have established themselves among the world’s best.

The Fijian Drua identity and brand is unique and pays homage to the origins of the franchise name. The brand identity features the stylised version of the iconic drua, the renowned and powerful traditional Fijian sea vessel transporting warriors across the world’s mightiest ocean. Strong and extremely fast, it ruled the South Seas. It is befitting as a name and an identity for a franchise featuring players who are warriors on the rugby field, playing fast, powerful and fearless rugby.

The Fijian Drua franchise is made up of some of the region’s best rugby players, including Olympic Gold Medalists, international ‘Flying Fijians’, seasoned veterans and up and coming stars. At the helm, we have world class coaches and staff, led by Head Coach Mick Byrne. Every member of the Fijian Drua vuvale (family) is committed to sharing the joy of rugby with typical Fijian flair, both on and off the field. https://drua.rugby

InCrowd drives big numbers for Finalissima 22

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The InCrowd content team turned their attention to Finalissima 2022 last week, creating content across UEFA EURO social channels and website for the showdown between EURO 2020 winners Italy and Copa América victors Argentina.

With Messi in town, hopes for a trademark performance were high and it was no surprise that the top posts across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok all featured Leo! Highlights include:

  • 11.5 MILLION views of Lionel Messi highlights video on Facebook; the biggest post across EURO channels this year
  • 1.9 MILLION plays and 300k likes of the Messi arrival Reel on Instagram, in collaboration with Copa América

Next, the team turn their attention to the UEFA Women’s EURO, already gathering momentum in the build up to kick off on Wednesday 6th July at Old Trafford as England take on Austria.

To find out more about InCrowd’s content services, visit www.incrowdsports.com or get in touch directly on enquiries@incrowdsports.com

InCrowd and The ECB win Sports Technology Award

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Last night InCrowd and England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were delighted to be named Sports Technology Partnership of the Year, at the Sports Technology Awards 2022, expertly run by The STA Group.

This was a highly competitive category, with the other shortlisted contenders all having great years. Thanks again to those at The STA Group for hosting such a special evening!

Here’s to another great year and summer ahead with The Hundred!

For the full list of winners, click here

InCrowd and the ECB now look to Summer 2022 and the plans already unfolding to make the return of The Hundred even bigger and better than 2021 – download the app now, and keep an eye out!

To find out more about InCrowd Customer Data and Fan experiences products, visit www.incrowdsports.com or get in touch directly on enquiries@incrowdsports.com to set up a quick all


Euroleague and InCrowd launch new official app

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Euroleague Basketball launch new official app!

To accompany their new website, built by UNRVLD and powered by InCrowd’s digital experience platform, Bridge, Euroleague and InCrowd are pleased to announce the launch of a new iOS and Android app.

The new app allows fans to keep up to date with the action from all three competitions, this time right in the pocket of the Euroleague fan. Live match updates, box scores, play by plays, video and dynamic news feeds mean that fans will never miss a moment…

Find out more HERE

Exciting times ahead as InCrowd expands it’s broad product and services offering into a more diverse roster of sports. To find out more visit www.incrowdsports.com or get in touch directly on enquiries@incrowdsports.com


Ulster Rugby launch new official app with InCrowd

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The new official Ulster Rugby App is now live!

As part of their digital transformation and to accompany their new InCrowd built website launched in November 2021, Ulster Rugby and InCrowd have teamed up to deliver a club first with the launch of an Official app.

With the fan very much first in mind, the new app will be the ultimate Ulster Rugby companion; alongside native, stats driven match centres, the app will deliver exclusive news, personalised content, competitions and gamification to fans and provides new sponsorship opportunities.

Another exciting step for Ulster Rugby and InCrowd; keep an eye out for new features in the future as the team continue to develop the Ulster Rugby experience, #ForEveryFan…

Find out more HERE


Rugby League World Cup Agency Roster Announced

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Activity is starting to ramp up for the Rugby League World Cup 2021!

Ahead of the competition kicking off in October, RLWC21 has announced an incredible roster of individuals and business partners to deliver a truly memorable tournament for fans of Rugby League, old and new.

InCrowd are supporting the RLWC21 takeover of the The Rugby Football League’s official #OurLeague app for the build up to and duration of the tournament.

RLWC21 will be able to immediately connect with the 210K+ Our League members via InCrowd’s intelligent, data powered marketing technology and introduce new fans to the sport through exciting new activations. The Our League app will become a second screen companion to the tournament with sophisticated match centres, polls, exclusive news and personalised content bringing fans even closer to the event.

In addition audience driven, content and personalisation tools will offer brand partners new, exciting and hyper targeted sponsorship opportunities to drive ROI.

Find out more HERE


Fijian Drua partner with InCrowd Sports

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The Fijian Drua, the newest franchise in Super Rugby Pacific have appointed InCrowd Sports to lead its fan and digital strategy, starting with the launch of a new website – drua.rugby. 

The Fijian Drua, who will be playing home fixtures across Fiji and Australia in their first season, have been established to deliver a sustainable route for Fijian talent to play professional rugby, whilst also showcasing Fiji’s exciting style of play in the southern hemisphere’s biggest competition.

Key to the Fijian Drua’s growth strategy will be engaging the significant audience with interest in Fijian Rugby, so the club has appointed leading data, technology and sports marketing specialists InCrowd, who are helping build a digital ecosystem from the ground up to deliver personalised experiences and engaging content for fans in Fiji and around the world.

InCrowd has a proven track record of producing industry-leading fan technology, data solutions and professional services for a portfolio of clients that include URC (formerly PRO14 Rugby), Premiership Rugby, Euroleague Basketball, Formula 1, ECB, Rugby Football League and a number of Premier League and Championship football clubs.

In Australia and New Zealand, InCrowd currently delivers technology across 33 venues including the SCG, Stadium Australia and CommBank Stadium, as well as working with organisations such as Golf Australia and Netball Australia.

During the 2022 Super Rugby season, drua.rugby will have real time updates during match days, as well as latest news, statistical graphics, fan voting, competitions, player profiles, video galleries, interviews and other exclusive content.

The website has been built upon InCrowd’s digital experience platform, Bridge, which includes a sports specific headless CMS, digital asset manager, fan engagement tools, audience insights and tools that enable personalised content delivery and communications based on 1st party data.

As part of the partnership, InCrowd will support the Fijian Drua as they generate and collect more fan data, helping the club with its commercial strategy as well as personalising fan communications across multiple new channels as they are launched. Fijian Drua CEO, Brian Thorburn, said:

“We’re committed to offering our fans, supporters and stakeholders an outstanding digital experience when they engage with us online and DRUA.RUGBY is obviously the most critical component of this objective. We may be a brand new team but one with very strong roots. And even before running out for our first game, we have a strong global following and premium brand associations with major global players including Swire Shipping, New Balance, Fiji Airways, ANZ and Vodafone. Our partnership with InCrowd will further strengthen our engagement with our audiences at home and wherever they are overseas, with content and interactivity which will be unique to the Drua.”

InCrowd Head of Partnerships APAC Seb Lear, said:

“This is an incredibly exciting project which we are honoured to be part of. In a broader context, this is a game changer in the global rugby landscape by helping Fiji create a sustainable talent pathway and a commercial strategy that keeps the incredible Fijian talent in the Pacific. It’s been a pleasure to work with the Fijian Drua team over the last few months to begin to deliver great digital experiences for the passionate fans of Fijian Rugby. This fan first approach is a value at InCrowd’s core, with the foundation of the business built on helping sports organisations create direct relationships with their fans to drive commercial value, something that has been even more critical for every sport to focus on over the last 2 years.”

The Fijian Drua will play their first ever Super Rugby Pacific match against the NSW Waratahs at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, Western Sydney on Friday 18 February.