As well as backing the England 2015 and Japan 2019 World Cups, Emirates' sponsorship and support of International Rugby Board match officials is also being extended until 2019.

It includes rights to match official shirts for both tournaments, a first for the global event.

Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) made the announcement today, which is said extends "a winning partnership" stretching back to 2006.

Airline Emirates first sponsored the Rugby World Cup 2007 in France, and became a Worldwide Partner for the tournament staged in New Zealand in 2011

RWCL chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "We are excited to be renewing our long-standing and highly-successful partnership with Emirates.

"We look forward to collaborating with Emirates to further the promotion of rugby around the world through the Rugby World Cup partnership and support of our match officials, as the sporting community looks forward to what promises to be an exceptional England 2015 tournament and an historic first Rugby World Cup in Japan."

Heineken, Land Rover, Société Générale and DHL have already been announced as Rugby World Cup 2015 Worldwide Partners.

London's Olympic Stadium will be one of 13 venues staging matches during the Rugby World Cup 2015 in England ©Getty Images



RWCL managing director Brett Gosper added: "This deal represents the largest and most wide-ranging sponsorship deal in the history of Rugby World Cup.

"We are well on track to secure and announce the full Rugby World Cup 2015 commercial programme in record time, which is great for the tournament and great for Rugby at a time when the sport is experiencing unprecedented global profile, participation and commercial appeal."

England 2015, which will see matches held in 13 venues, including the Olympic Stadium in London, is due to begin on September 18 next year, with the final on October 31.