Petersfield RFC is delighted to confirm that Abacus Associates will step up to become a Principle Partner for the 2026/27 season, extending a relationship that has quietly supported the club for years into one of the most transformative commercial partnerships in the club's framework.

As Petersfield RFC's Official Video Partner for 26/27, Abacus Associates will power the VEO camera platform that captures every fixture and every highlight the club produces across every team. Their investment will directly fund the addition of two brand new VEO cameras to the club's existing set-up, taking the total number in operation across Penns Place to four. It also unlocks the potential to activate VEO Live, meaning that every 1st XV home game will be streamed live on the club's YouTube channel this season, alongside a selection of women's, youth and girls rugby fixtures wherever availability allows.

Petersfield RFC has undergone a digital transformation over the past few seasons, with technology now embedded in everything we do. Abacus Associates's backing pushes that story further, adding more live content, more matchday coverage, and more storytelling from more sections of the club than at any point in its history.

One of the UK's leading independent financial planning firms, Abacus Associates is owned by wealth management group Saltus and manages more than £3 billion of assets on behalf of its clients. Founded in 2003, the business has grown to include over 150 independent financial advisers, mortgage and protection specialists working with both personal and corporate clients across the country. The firm's focus on independence, plain-speaking advice and long-term relationships closely mirrors Petersfield RFC's own commitment to building partnerships that last and putting people at the centre of everything the club does.

The partnership carries a deeply personal thread through the club. Alex Groves, a Petersfield RFC legend who continues to pull on the shirt for our vets and who turned out for the 2nd XV on a number of occasions last season, is the connection point between the club and the business. His journey with Petersfield spans more years than most on the team sheet, and having Abacus Associates back the club at Principal level is a fitting reflection of the enduring role he plays in the Petersfield community.

As Video Partner for 26/27, Abacus Associates will hold a prominent presence across the club, including back-of-shirt placement on the men's 1st XV playing kit and a logo on the back of the new senior men's playing shorts. The partnership will also feature across the club's website, matchday programme, social media output and sponsor wall in the clubhouse throughout the season.

Petersfield RFC Chairman Stuart Barden said:

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome Abacus Associates into the Principle Partner family for 26/27 as our Official Video Partner. Abacus have been a friend of this club for many years, quietly supporting us in the background, and it is fantastic to see them step up into a leading sponsorship role now, at a point in Petersfield RFC's story where their support will make a real difference.

Their investment sits at the heart of one of the most exciting parts of the club's recent growth. Two new VEO cameras and the opportunity to move to VEO Live means every senior men's home fixture will be streamed on our YouTube channel this season, with women's, youth and girls rugby games added into the mix where the schedule allows. For a grassroots club, that scale of video coverage is genuinely exceptional, and it is a huge step forward for our digital output.

That step up is also a very personal one. Alex Groves is one of the truest Petersfield legends we have. He has played for this club at every level, and continues to give his time and energy to the vets and the 2nd XV to this day. To now have Alex bring his professional world into partnership with the club he loves feels genuinely special, and speaks to the kind of long-term relationships that Abacus builds with its own clients.

Partnerships like this one are what allow grassroots clubs like Petersfield RFC to invest in the standards our players and supporters deserve. Abacus's backing helps us continue to raise the bar year on year, both on the pitch and off it, and we are thrilled to have them alongside us as we head into a defining year on the road to our 100th season."

Everyone at Petersfield RFC would like to place on record a huge thank you to Alex Groves and the entire team at Abacus Associates for their continued belief in the club, and their commitment to stepping up as our Video Partner for the 2026/27 season.

We look forward to building the partnership across the season ahead as Petersfield RFC continues its journey towards its centenary year in 2027.