The partnership will see Prozone conduct an official break-out workshop alongside the main plenary conference.

It will focus on performance analysis, data analytics and the delivery of new insights and success metrics.

"These are exciting times for rugby with unprecedented participation growth, a record-breaking Rugby World Cup one year away, a ground-breaking Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019 and our Olympic Games return in 2016," said IRB chief executive Brett Gosper.

"It is very encouraging for the ongoing success of ConfEx that it is able to attract commercial partners so we're delighted to announce Prozone as the official performance analysis partner for this year's event."

Founded in 1995, Prozone delivers performance insights at elite level to more than 300 professional clubs and organisations worldwide.

It has worked with the last three winners of the Rugby World Cup - New Zealand in 2011, South Africa in 2007 and England in 2003.

Prozone has provided data analysis services to the last three winners of the Webb Ellis Cup, including New Zealand in 2011 ©Getty Images




"We are delighted to be a partner of the IRB ConfEx," said Ryan Patterson, Prozone's global head of multi-sport.

"A chance to share knowledge and build strong networks in the rugby community, the event presents a fantastic opportunity for Prozone.

"As Rugby World Cup 2015 approaches, ConfEx is the ideal platform for us to communicate face to face with a large number of existing and prospective clients."

The inaugural World Rugby Conference and Exhibition took place in the IRB's home city of Dublin, Ireland last year.

This year's event is due to be held at London's Hilton Metropole hotel on November 17 and 18 and is expected to attract around 600 delegates from more than 100 countries.

A range of issues will be discussed at the conference, including a panel discussion on the Rugby World Cup - Past and Future, which will feature the likes of England 2015 chief executive Debbie Jevans and head of Rugby World Cup Limited Alan Gilpin.

They will appear alongside secretary general of Japan 2019, Akira Shimazu, chief executive of New Zealand Rugby Union, Steve Tew, and Rugby Football Union chairman Bill Beaumont.

The build-up to rugby sevens' Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016 will also be high on the agenda, while the event will mark the launch of a new brand and logo for the sport's international governing body, which is changing its name to World Rugby.

For more details on the Conference click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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