THE Vikings have joined forces with Runcorn Shopping Centre for 2014 as part of a commercial package that has seen them throw their weight behind the club for the new First Utility Super League season.

Runcorn Shopping Centre are sponsors of Vikings’ forwards Dave Allen and Paul Johnson, as well as members of the Vikings’ exclusive Chairman’s Club.

The new link-up between the two organisations comes as the Shopping Centre relaunched with a new branding and marketing campaign that’s attracting new shoppers to its Halton Lea base.

Karl Clawley, who was at the Vikings 64-10 win over London Broncos two weeks ago for the Chairman’s Club, says joining the Vikings is a natural fit as they look to attract supporters to its Shopping Centre.

He said: “For Runcorn Shopping Centre to be partners with the Vikings is going to be an important relationship in building strong ties with our local community and other local businesses.

By supporting the borough’s biggest rugby team, we are looking forward to building some great professional relationships with the club and its players. We had our two players, Dave Allen and Paul Johnson, at the centre on Monday 24th February where shoppers greeted them for a short while.

The passion some of our 140,000 visitors a week share about the Vikings proves that we are in the heart of a rugby-loving town. The power the game has in pulling together families and communities is really encouraging in this day and age.”

James Rule, Vikings’ CEO, said: “We are really looking forward to working with Runcorn Shopping Centre. We have a large number of fans who cross the bridge to come to our games and hopefully we’ll be able to point some of them, as well as new followers, back in the other direction to shop at Runcorn Shopping Centre.

Runcorn Shopping Centre really has the scope to become a great shopping destination for both the local community and the surrounding towns.”