Hampshire unveil Ageas as new Rose Bowl ground sponsor

Hampshire have announced a new naming rights deal with an insurance company for their Rose Bowl ground, which will now become known as the Ageas Bowl.

The ground, on the edge of Southampton, staged Test cricket for the first time last June when England faced Sri Lanka.

It has been Hampshire's headquarters since 2001.

In December, Eastleigh Borough Council voted in favour of buying the site for 拢6.5m and renting it back to the cricket club.

The council also plans to spend 拢32m on a hotel at the venue.

The hotel development had been delayed after a legal challenge by a group of local hoteliers.

Although their came to an agreement with the council in June 2010 and withdrew their challenge.

Their new sponsorship deal with Ageas is reported to be worth 拢2m over six years.