Developer Ubisoft has announced that professional footballer Jesse Lingard has acquired UK-based esports organisation Audacity Esports.
As part of the deal, the Rainbow Six Siege roster — temporarily named Team JLE — will be rebranded to JLINGZ esports and compete in the next season of the UK and Ireland Nationals (UKIN).
RELATED: Ubisoft gets the all-clear for offline Six Invitational event
Jesse Lingard, Professional Footballer for Premier League club Manchester United and the England National team, said: “My JLINGZ brand has been growing for a number of years but to finally dive into esports and add my own teams to JLINGZ is incredible.
“Esports has everything for me it’s fast-paced and competitive, the community is amazing and it’s been great to have Ubisoft’s support on this journey too. Watch this space, JLINGZ esports is going all the way!”
Besides creating a legacy within Rainbow Six Siege, JLINGZ esports aims to qualify for the 2022 European Challenger League.
Former Team JLE members included Sam Williams, Skiddy, Lewis ‘Xumi’ Coulson, Joshua ‘Nerf’ Frost, Jack ‘Blackout’ Greenwell and Aleksi ‘Movetaho’ Kuoppa. Through various announcements on Twitter, it was revealed that only captain Williams will continue with JLINGZ esports.
Will Attwood, Esports Marketing Manager at Ubisoft UK also commented: “We’re thrilled to have Jesse on board and look forward to someone who knows all about competing at the highest level bringing his expertise to the UK and Irish scene.
“Rainbow Six Esports and the UK & Ireland Nationals are going from strength-to-strength; to have someone as well-known and respected as Jesse Lingard involved is a testament to the game’s enduring popularity within the local esports community.”
[primis_video widget=”5183″]
RELATED: FACEIT and Ubisoft expand Rainbow Six Siege FPL into LATAM
Last year, Audacity Esports announced a partnership with Italian sportswear brand Kappa which supplied the organisation’s rosters with jerseys. However, the two entities haven’t addressed yet whether the collaboration will include JLINGZ esports.
More recently, Audacity Esports announced that it was one of the six UK-based esports organisations that will form premium esports and lifestyle brand Coalesce Esports.
Esports Insider says: Jesse Lingard becomes the latest addition to the list of professional English football players who have taken an interest in esports, such as David Beckham, Harry Maguire and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Hopefully, Lingard and JLINGZ esports will reach their goals and manage to bring exciting plays to the Rainbow Six Siege current scene.