Tangerine becomes Melbourne Renegades Principal Partner

Tangerine has renewed its partnership with the Melbourne Renegades and will become the club's Principal Partner for the 2026/27 season, marking the telecommunications company's third consecutive season with the Big Bash club.

The new deal elevates Tangerine from its previous partnership tier and puts its branding on the front of both the women's and men's Melbourne Renegades Big Bash jerseys this summer.

The announcement included a presentation of the new Renegades shirts to Foundation Members who have retained their memberships for 16 straight seasons. Club Captain Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Jason Behrendorff and Harry Dixon also attended.

Sports sponsorship remains a prominent route for consumer-facing telecommunications companies seeking brand recognition in crowded markets. For Tangerine, the renewal keeps it aligned with one of Victoria's established cricket brands and extends a relationship that began two seasons ago.

The Melbourne Renegades compete in both the Women's Big Bash League and the men's Big Bash competition, giving sponsors exposure across two domestic T20 tournaments. Front-of-shirt placement is among the most prominent commercial positions available to a brand in Australian cricket.

Tangerine was founded in 2014 by brothers Andrew and Richard Branson and is based in Melbourne. It serves tens of thousands of Australian households with nbn and mobile services and counts the Commonwealth Bank among its shareholders.

Beyond its core telecoms business, Tangerine has used sport to build its public profile, backing athletes including swimmer Mollie O'Callaghan and tennis player Maya Joint. The renewed Renegades agreement deepens that strategy in team sport.

Richard Branson, Chief Operating Officer at Tangerine, said the latest agreement reflected the company's continuing commitment to the club and its supporters.

“We're incredibly proud to be the Principal Partner of the Melbourne Renegades this season,” said Richard Branson, Chief Operating Officer at Tangerine.

“As we enter our third consecutive season alongside the club, we're excited to continue strengthening our commitment to the members, supporters, players and families who have shaped the Renegades story from the very beginning.”

Branson also linked the sponsorship to cricket's broad audience during the Australian summer.

“Cricket unites Australians over the summer, creating moments of connection that extend far beyond the boundary, whether that's watching a game at the MCG, supporting a local club, or streaming every match across the season from home. Our partnership plays a valuable role in helping us connect fans to the moments that matter most this season,” he said.

Club backing

For the Renegades, the move brings added commercial support ahead of the coming campaign and extends a relationship with a Melbourne-based sponsor. In domestic sport, local alignment can carry particular value as clubs seek to build ties with members and supporters over multiple seasons.

Max Abbott, General Manager at the Melbourne Renegades, said the expanded sponsorship sent a positive signal as the club prepared for its next season.

“This season is all about backing our players and fans to come together and achieve something special, and we're delighted to have an Australian brand like Tangerine support us on that journey,” said Max Abbott, General Manager at the Melbourne Renegades.

“Tangerine continues to support the Renegades and keep fans connected, and that means a lot. Their commitment sends a really positive message to our players and fans: we're here, we're backing you, and we're ready for the season ahead.”

The latest deal underlines the continuing role of sponsorship income in Australia's domestic T20 competitions, where clubs rely on commercial partnerships for visibility, fan engagement and operational support alongside league distributions and match-day revenue.

By stepping up to Principal Partner, Tangerine secures one of the club's highest-profile sponsorship positions across both the women's and men's squads.