The selling of packages to the Rugby World Cup has become a legal battleground

Sodexho's rugby world cup blow

8th June 2007, 3:22pm

Sodexho's exclusive deal to run hospitality packages for this year's Rugby World Cup in France has run into trouble.

A French court has ruled in favour of British company Marcus Evans Events Group, which has muscled in on the world cup by organising packages that are tied to matches but do not include match tickets.

The International Rugby Board (IRB), which had signed the hospitality deal with contract  caterer Sodexho and British-based corporate hospitality specialist Mike Burton, asked the Paris Commercial Court to rule against the business strategy of Marcus Evans.

But the court has ruled against the IRB and said Marcus Evans can run hospitality events linked to world cup games without the approval of the IRB's organising committee.

According to The Times newspaper the IRB claimed the company was running "a parallel trade and reselling tickets to the stadiums" and "exploiting the notoriety of the World Cup without spending any money".

But the lawyer for Marcus Evans was reported to have said: "If you followed the plaintiff's reasoning it would become impossible for a travel agent to mention the Cannes Film Festival when advertising holidays on the French riviera when the festival is on."

Analysts say a result of the ruling may be that the value of Sodexho's corporate hospitality deals will fall.

Marketing of packages for the the Rugby World Cup, which kicks off in France in September, is being carried out in the UK by Sodexho Prestige.

World Cup organisers have said they may appeal against the ruling.

Related Articles:

• 17 Aug 2010 - Rugby Travel & Hospitality Ltd extend partnership with Rugby World Cup

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