RTÉ Sport will take over RTÉ2 tonight with back to back coverage of the opening fixtures between Ireland and England in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations and the U20 Six Nations.
The Women’s game gets underway at Energia Park at 5 PM before the action switches to Irish Independent Park in Cork for the U20 game.
PwC has taken on more rights to that sponsorship and will be visible in a number of additional positions around the ground, as well as on the shirt fronts of the Irish team.
Guinness cannot sponsor the Under 20’s as part of their own marketing code not to associate with sport aimed at younger age groups.
Electric Ireland had sponsored the home games in the tournament and it may be that the move to Cork was partly conceived to avoid a clash of brands between them and Energia. A focus at this time of year on the Electric Ireland Higher education tournaments in the GAA meant that the clash never arose however and new arrangements were struck.
The move looks like a winner in terms of attendance as over 2,500 tickets had been pre-sold earlier this week despite a clash tonight with the Cork Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.
PwC Managing Partner is expected to achieve a little bi-location having his starters at the dinner before nipping across the city to catch the end of the game and present the Player of The Match Awards. Watch carefully underneath his jacket and you may see a bow tie peeping out.
