Vodafone Ireland has revealed a very special Rugby Ball as part of its preparations for the Irish team’s participation at the Rugby World Cup.
In partnership with Gilbert, it has created a unique ball that features the fingerprints of 32 people representing the 32 counties of Ireland.
Ireland’s Ball will travel to Japan with the team as a symbol of the #TeamOfUs support for Irish Rugby from fans in Ireland and around the world.
The 32 people selected to contribute their fingerprint to Ireland’s Ball represent Irish rugby fans and the #TeamOfUs from every corner of the country.
Contributors to the ball include Maeve Cox from Meath, the first baby born in Ireland in 2019; Irish Women’s team captain Ciara Griffin from Kerry, John Burke from Clare who summited Everest in 2017; Brian John Spencer an artist from Belfast, and Matt Ni Grioffa an Irish speaking lobster fisherman and founding member of An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí, the only Irish speaking rugby team in the world.
The full list of those whose fingerprints are quite literally across the #TeamOfUs ball can be found here.
“Vodafone’s mission with Irish Rugby is to create the most interconnected team and fanbase on the planet through the #TeamOfUs,” said Vodafone’s Head of Sponsorship and Business Brand Gerry Nixon.
“Our ‘Everyone In’ campaign is an invitation, to everyone around the country, and indeed every Irish rugby fan around the world, to come together and connect with Irish rugby in the build-up to and during their time in Japan.”
“We are conscious that most fans won’t be able to travel to Japan and we wanted to show the team the level of support that exists in every corner of Ireland.”
“We identified 32 people from 32 counties to share their fingerprints via a bespoke App so we could create Ireland’s Ball, a rugby ball that represents all of Ireland and carries our identity.”
“The ball will travel to Japan with the team this September as a symbol of our support. Now we are looking for one person to present Ireland’s Ball to the team on behalf of the entire nation.”
The search for that one lucky individual to present Ireland’s Ball to the Irish Rugby team before they depart for Japan.
Entry is via a simple data capture form which signs us up for future communications around the #TeamOfUs campaign and you can stake your claim to hand over the ball on behalf of the nation at the Aviva Stadium on September 6th right here.
Read more: Keep up with all our daily coverage of the build-up and the tournament itself right here.
