With 18 months still to go before the event kicks off in France, the IRB has filled all its allocated worldwide partner slots. SNCF joins Visa International, EDF Energy, Peugeot, GMF and Societe Generale.
Each is believed to have paid about £3m to associate themselves with the tournament. In the case of SNCF, much of this payment is likely to take the form of a value-in-kind agreement through the provision of transport and logistical support for the event.
The tournament organisers expect to accrue at least £60m from the sponsorships and the sale of TV rights to the 2007 tournament.
ITV Sport has secured the UK TV rights to the event after agreeing a two-tournament contract, worth an estimated £40m, ahead of the 2003 Cup.
Sports marketing agency IMG negotiates sponsorship deals on behalf of the IRB Rugby World Cup Board, while its broadcast subsidiary TWI is responsible for TV rights sales.
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