The Guinness PRO12 was officially launched yesterday at the Park Royal London base of the new sponsor and immediate comparisons were being drawn with the League now standing as a genuine equal to the Aviva Premiership and France’s Top 14.
The timing was excellent coming hot on the heals of breaking news that Jonathan Sexton was returning to Leinster Rugby from the start of next season, and English media were pointing out the fact that it was the one time Celtic and RaboDirect League that had provided the majority of the players on last summers British and Irish Lions Tour.
More competitive qualification from the League for the new European Rugby Champions’ Cup is an obvious addition to interest in the tournament but is in the Guinness sponsorship and the TV deal involving Sky that many commentators found the greatest statement of intent.
Captains and coaches from all 12 competing clubs were there ahead of the start of competition on Friday, September 5th.
Quality
“We have seen the quality over the last couple of years of the sides coming out of the PRO12 in Europe and going head-to-head with teams from other nations,” Â said Leinster Captain Jamie Heaslip.
“I am just biting at the bit to get involved. The Glasgow game will be pretty exciting – it is always a good bash with the lads over there.”
Fellow Irish outfits Munster and Ulster made up last season’s play-off quartet, with Welsh outfit Ospreys narrowly missing out in fifth.
Exciting
Ulster, who lifted the trophy in 2012, can go one better this time around according to skipper Rory Best. Â “It is a fresh start for us and we have a very exciting young back line, along with the two older boys – Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble.
“We have come close on a few occasions and probably just fallen short on a little bit of experience and tactical nous in the big games.”
Guinness’ involvement is a major plus for the tournament given the marketing muscle and rugby heritage they can put behind the tournament. Â They have long term partnerships in place at international level and this step into the club arena will serve to recover some of the impetus within the sport that Heineken may have gained over recent years through its association with a growth of the Heineken Cup.
Confident
John Feehan, Chief Executive of the Guinness PRO12 said that holding the launch event in London “is a statement of intent. We are confident in our own ability to appeal not to just those in the Celtic countries and Italy, but also to the whole of Britain.
“Sky and Guinness believe in us and we believe in ourselves.”
With the Rugby World Cup taking place in England and Wales next year, and the new dawn for both the Guinness Pro12 and the as yet unsponsored European Champions’ Cup it is a good time for the sport and an equally good time for those involved in Irish rugby to be tilting at the bigger UK market in terms of a marketing footprint.
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