Ubisoft UK today announced the acquisition of Audacity Esports, a "Rainbow Six Siege" team in the UK and Ireland Nationals (UKIN), by Manchester United football player Jesse Lingard.
With the team currently known as Team JLE, many had speculated that the initials had stood for "Jesse Lingard Esports" when the footballer had teased an involvement with the UK "Siege" scene two days ago.
Now, Team JLE will be rebranded under its new name, JLINGZ esports, and play in the next season of the UKIN Second Division while also aiming for qualification to the 2022 European Challenger League.
"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," said Lingard in the official release by Ubisoft UK.
Ubisoft UK was also upbeat about the acquisition, with Esports Marketing Manager Will Attwood "thrilled to have Jesse on board". Attwood also went on to say that having "someone as well-known and respected as Jesse Lingard involved is a testament to the game’s enduring popularity within the local esports community".
Audacity Esports had competed this year in Season 2 of the UKIN First Division, where it had finished joint-fifth in the playoffs following a joint-fourth placement in the regular season. Rebranded to Team JLE for Season 3, it slid to last place with just three points in the season, missing out on playoffs and being relegated to the Second Division.