Vodafone have agreed a long-term deal to become shirt sponsors of the Scotland national teams.

The company's logo will adorn the back of the men's and women's shirts as part of the deal, while Vodafone will also support the growth of the women’s game in Scotland by backing the Vodafone Regional Training Centres. 

Players in the Scotland Women side, as well as those in the women's pathway teams, will also get access to Vodafone's PLAYER.Connect app.

It helps female athletes understand the impact their menstrual cycle has on their performance and recovery.

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Scotland Women's matches against Wales and Fiji at Hive Stadium next month will also become the Vodafone Series as part of the "multi-year agreement". 

Scotland centre Emma Orr believes having a joint sponsor for the national teams shows the growth of the women's game. 

“I think it is so exciting to have such a high-profile brand invested in not just the women’s side, but the men’s side as well,” she said. 

The 21-year-old has experience of using the PLAYER.Connect app during her time with Edinburgh in the Celtic Challenge earlier this year. 

Emma Orr in action for Edinburgh during the Celtic ChallengeEmma Orr in action for Edinburgh during the Celtic Challenge (Image: SNS)

She explained more about how it works, and its benefits.

Orr continued: "It is an app that allows you to track your menstrual cycle and how it impacts strain on your body and times when you are more susceptible to injury and things like that – which is such a big thing."

Orr said it is "a big step forward" in aiding the women's team maximise their performance. 

She continued: “The relationship between your menstrual cycle and injuries has been mentioned a lot in scientific reports,  so it’s massive to have this app.

"And if it can help us to prevent injuries, even little injuries, we’ll grab that with both hands and use it to help ourselves as athletes. So it’s brilliant to have that on board.”

Rob Winterschladen, Vodafone UK's consumer director, said: “We’re really proud to be a new principal partner of Scottish Rugby’s men’s and women’s teams, who join our growing portfolio of partnerships with some of the UK’s most iconic teams and events.

"We’re hugely excited to be working with the Scotland teams and to be further supporting the growth of women’s rugby in the UK.”