The sponsorship will encompass 157 rugby teams competing in leagues level six and below, playing in the three counties, and makes Tribute the official beer of South West rubgy..

The news comes as a tremendous boost to rugby in the South West. St Austell Brewery's involvement will aid the development of the sport across the region, while the applicable clubs will gain new funding opportunities, equipment and support for social events. St Austell Brewery are no strangers to rugby, and already sponsor a number of individual clubs including Redruth, St Austell, Newquay Hornets, Hayle and St Ives.

James Staughton, managing director of St Austell Brewery, said: "As a South West based family firm for the past 156 years we're delighted to be supporting the region's rugby clubs, which have such strong links with our local communities in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset. We think it is particularly fitting that Tribute, as the South West's favourite real ale, should be supporting the South West's favourite sport.

 "From a business point of view it is a considerable investment for the Brewery and shows our confidence in this great beer and our willingness to investing in our ambition of seeing Tribute established as a leading regional brand with national aspirations."

Mike Gee, Secretary of the South West Divisional Organising Committee added: "We are delighted to have St Austell Brewery on board to sponsor clubs in the far South West. This is great news for rugby in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, and the three Constituency Bodies and the South West Divisional Organising Committee are looking forward to a successful partnership in the years to come with St Austell Brewery."

Ends

Note for editors

From September 2007 the ‘Tribute South West Leagues' will be known as.

•           Tribute South West 2 West

•           Tribute Western Counties West

•           Tribute Western Counties North

•           Tribute Cornwall & Devon League

•           Tribute Devon 1

•           Tribute Devon 2

•           Tribute Cornwall 1

•           Tribute Cornwall 2

•           Tribute Somerset Premier

•           Tribute Somerset 1

•           Tribute Somerset 2 North

•           Tribute Somerset 2 South

•           Tribute Somerset 3 North

•           Tribute Somerset 3 South

Tribute was first created as "Daylight Robbery", commemorative ale by Roger Ryman to mark the solar eclipse in August 1999 - and it proved an instant hit. The beer's popularity soon made it obvious the company was on to a winner. Brewing continued and Daylight Robbery was re-launched as Tribute, going on to win numerous prestigious awards, including ‘Supreme Champion Cornish Ale' at the 2004 Falmouth Beer Festival and Gold in the standard ales category in the International Beer Competition.

Increased sales of Tribute in the South West and across the UK led the Brewery to carry out a major extension to its brewing facilities in 2006, with the creation of a completely remodelled fermenting room and the installation of an additional two new fermentation vessels.

Tribute currently has national listings through Asda and regional listings in the South West and West in Sainsbury's and Morrisons respectively. As well as its off-trade success, the brand is also gaining a large following as draught guest ale in pubs throughout the UK.

The next phase of development at the Brewery will include installing a new, state of the art bottling line, planned for 2007 which will enable St Austell Brewery to bottle its own beers.