Trans-Atlantic team sponsored by firm

Terry Churchill, chief operating officer of Allseas Global Logistics ; Martin Vickers, business development officer at Toronto Wolfpack, and Bryn Atherton, sales manager of Allseas Global Logistics, with players.

A CARGO shipping, freight-forwarding and supply chain firm has signed a rugby sponsorship deal with the world's first trans-Atlantic sports team, which will play matches in Canada and England.

Allseas Global Logistics, which has its Greater Manchester base at Adelaide Mill in Oldham, has announced the deal with Canada's first rugby league club, Toronto Wolfpack.

The Canadian team is beginning its first professional season competing in England's League One, which is the third tier of English rugby league. It hopes to progress to the sport's top-flight Super League in the future.

The club will travel between Canada and England for home and away matches, with English clubs similarly travelling to Toronto for their away fixtures against Wolkpack.

Allseas will be supporting the rugby team's logistics needs throughout the season as they travel across the Atlantic for different matches.

The shipping and supply chain firm focuses on sectors such as oil and gas, energy, mining, construction and events. It has other UK bases at the ports of Tilbury and Felixstowe, plus overseas sites in Europe and the Middle East.

The rugby sponsorship deal with boost its profile in Canada and North America, and also reflect its links with the north of England.

The Toronto team will be training at Brighouse, West Yorkshire, during their visits to the UK and the north is traditionally a rugby league stronghold.

Darren Wright, managing director of Allseas, said: "We are delighted to be an official partner of the Toronto Wolfpack. We believe in their pioneering spirit and understand that working as a team - whether in sport or business - inspires people to have a collective vision. This sponsorship deal represents our commitment to investing in trans-Atlantic partnerships and building links with North America."

Eric Perez, chief executive of Toronto Wolfpack, said: "I'm very happy to welcome Allseas Global Logistics to the pack. We share a pioneering spirit, and my team and I look forward to working with the company."