Ulster Bank have sought to insert themselves into commentary around Saturday’s crucial RBS 6 Nations clash via the use of a smart and irreverent survey of rugby fans using the Teamer network.
Among the nuggets of media friendly and socially sharable information to emerge are that:
o 75% of us would cut a holiday short to watch Ireland play a Grand Slam decider
o Brian O’Driscoll crowned as Ireland’s best back of all-time with 75% of the vote
o Paul O’Connell named as best forward of all-time with 45% of the vote
o 68% chose England as the team we most enjoy seeing Ireland beat during the RBS 6 Nations
o George Hook wins as the pundit we would want to sit beside during a Grand Slam decider
o Rob Kearney pips Tommy Bowe to the post as Ireland’s best looking rugby player
The survey drew on over 1,360 responses from every county across the island of Ireland.
The biggest win was for O’Driscoll whose 75% share of vote in the best Ireland back of all time saw him comfortably defeat Ronan O’Gara (second place with 8%), Mike Gibson (third place with 4%) and Jack Kyle (fourth place with 2%) in the hearts of the rugby audience.
Paul O’Connell secured 45% of the vote in the forwards category, three times as much as second placed Willie John McBride with Fergus Slattery and Ciaran Fitzgerald filling the top four.
The Aviva Stadium will be pleased that 60% of those surveyed voted being at the stadium as their favourite place to watch Ireland, ahead of 19% who voted for the comfort of their living room, 12% for the pub and 6% for their local Rugby club.
George Hook, topped the poll as the pundit the Irish public would most like to sit beside during a Grand Slam decider (21%). He was followed closely by Conor O’Shea (18%), Keith Wood (16%), Brent Pope (14%) and Ulster Bank rugby ambassador, Alan Quinlan (9%).
The survey went beyond the obvious as well, asking what rugby item the Irish public would most like to take a ‘selfie’ with.
Cian Healy’s monster truck took pole position with 28% of the vote. Gordon D’Arcy’s beard came in second place (19%) – followed by Donnacha O’Callaghan’s red underpants (15%), Jamie Heaslip’s dog ‘Jay-Z’ (12%), Sean O’Brien’s scrum-cap (12%), one of George Hook’s multi-coloured ties (9%), and Daire O’Brien’s sheepskin jacket (5%).
There was good news as well for Canterbury who will be starting their latest term as official suppliers of the Ireland rugby kit with 88% of those surveyed claiming to own either an Ireland and / or their provincial rugby jersey.
Over half of those questioned also own their local club jersey.
“It’s fantastic to see so many people taking pride in their local club jersey, said Ulster Bank Rugby Ambassador Alan Quinlan.
“Supporting our local rugby clubs is essential for the development of the game. That’s what Ulster Bank’s IRFU partnership is all about.”
As Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU and title sponsor of the Ulster Bank League, Ulster Bank activates a number of initiatives designed to support rugby clubs, across the island of Ireland. Ulster Bank’s club initiative, Ulster Bank RugbyForce, is currently open for entries to clubs across the island of Ireland. The initiative provides rugby clubs with the opportunity to win support packages to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities. One rugby club will receive a top prize of €10,000, as well as a special training session with an IRFU coach and two Irish rugby stars. Four additional rugby clubs, one from each province, will each receive €5,000.
