At Kenilworth Rugby Club, sponsorship is about more than logos on shirts. It is about relationships, families and the next generation of players coming through the club.

The partnership with BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, began in exactly that way. What started as support for an age group rugby tour and kit for a youth side soon grew into a wider relationship with the club.

The players themselves designed their own kit, proudly featuring the BOSS logo. The sponsorship quickly became part of the fabric of the team, even appearing on national television during a mascot appearance. For Claire Nichol and the team at BOSS, however, the real value has always been in supporting the people behind the game.

"We did not enter sponsorship looking for a direct commercial return," explains Claire. "BOSS was formed to protect people, retailers, staff and customers. Supporting grassroots sport within our local neighbourhood felt like a natural extension of that responsibility. Rugby clubs bring families together. They build resilience and community. That aligns with what we stand for."

Stories like those of Finn Nichol and Tom Hunter capture exactly what grassroots rugby is about. Both players have grown up through Kenilworth Rugby Club, starting in minis and juniors before progressing through the ranks to represent the club at senior level. Their journeys reflect the long term community spirit that sponsorship like this helps sustain.

Behind the scenes, BOSS has been working since 1991 to reduce fuel theft and protect forecourt operators across the United Kingdom. Established by the oil industry as a not for profit organisation, the group was created to tackle the growing problem of unpaid fuel incidents.

Today, forecourt crime costs UK retailers more than £100 million each year. Through initiatives such as Forecourt Watch and the highly successful Payment Watch recovery scheme, BOSS has helped recover tens of millions of pounds annually while working closely with police and industry partners.

Recent BOSS developments include Police CPI accreditation and direct electronic access to the KADOE DVLA system, cutting vehicle recovery times from four weeks to just seventy two hours. Combined with advanced ANPR technology, this GDPR compliant system helps deter repeat offenders and protect retailers more effectively than ever.

Yet despite technological progress and operational growth, the organisation's philosophy remains unchanged. Prevention first. Fairness always. Community at heart.

As forecourt crime continues to present challenges for independent retailers, organisations like BOSS remain vital, not only in recovering lost revenue but also in reinforcing the importance of standards, accountability and collaboration.

And sometimes, that collaboration starts on a rugby pitch.