The King Country Rugby Union are proud to announce a landmark sponsorship agreement with Trevor Johnson & Paparata Elite Romney, a partnership that marks an exciting new chapter for the team and the wider rugby community.
Paparata Elite Romney, a brand that shares the Rams' commitment to community, performance, inclusivity, and creating opportunities in sport, has come on board as the team’s major sponsor. The alignment between the two organisations makes for a natural and powerful partnership, strengthening the Rams’ ability to engage with their community and support the region’s sporting aspirations.
King Country Rugby General Manager, Kieran Hema, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Paparata Elite Romney as our major sponsor. Trevor has a desire to support his local community and provide opportunities for people to engage with sport and that aligns perfectly with our values. This partnership will be instrumental in helping us promote and grow the game and make a real impact in the King Country. We have exciting plans for Rams fans and Paparata Elite Romney are a key partner in executing those plans”
As a business associated with the Rams brand, Paparata Elite Romney is an ideal fit for this sponsorship, reinforcing both parties’ shared passion for excellence, resilience, and teamwork. The sponsorship will play a crucial role in bolstering the team’s profile, performance and engagement with our community.
Trevor Johnson of Paparata Elite Romney added, “The King Country Rams are a team with a rich history and a strong community spirit, which resonates with our company’s values and vision. We believe in the power of sport to bring people together and inspire future generations, and we are excited to be part of this journey with the Paparata Rams.”
The partnership will begin in early March 2025 with plans for team merchandise, a team mascot and other community engagement ideas well underway. This underlines the commitment the ‘Paparata Rams’ have in connecting with and supporting their community.
Kieran added, “We would like to also acknowledge the support from 2024 major sponsors TLC Insurance and Greenlight Insurance Brokers who have re-signed as Gold and Maroon Sponsors respectively and continue to support King Country Rugby. Their commitment to King Country Rugby, along with all of our commercial partners, is crucial to the performance and delivery of rugby within our community”.
The first time the community will see the ‘Paparata Rams’ take the field will be against Taranaki in a pre-season Ranfurly Shield game on Wednesday June 11th at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth. An announcement on other sponsor signings and community engagement plans will follow in the next few months.
About Paparata Elite Romney:
Paparata Elite Romney is the high-performance Ram stud of Paparata Farms which is located on the Forgotten World Highway, 50 kms west of Taumarunui. Paparata farms is a genuine hill country property of over 8000ha farmed across 5 blocks. Paparata Elite Romney was established by Trevor Johnson in 1983 and the sheep are selected for their ability to perform on the traditional hill country of the King Country. More information can be found at www.paparata.co.nz
