Munster Rugby will soon be searching for a new principal sponsor according to reports over the weekend that Toyota will not be renewing their deal at the end of this season.
The partnership which is worth €1 million a year including the in-kind supply of vehicles to players and officials dates back to 2004.  It has spanned a period of amazing success for the province with two Heineken Cups and a golden generation of media friendly and high profile stars such as Paul O’Connell and Ronan O’Gara.
Bank of Ireland are the main supporters at this level of Irish rugby and have recently signed new deals to maintain their shirt sponsorship of Ulster and Leinster to 2015.  They already have a partnership with Munster but it may be a stretch to see them stepping up for another major deal in the sport.
Guinness and Adidas are two more multinational brands that have a commercial relationship with the side while the rest of the listed sponsors have more of a local and professional feel to them.
This potential need to attract a new sponsor will add to pressure on the team to perform on the pitch.  The next two fixtures against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium and then Racing Metro in the Heineken Cup assume even greater importance.
Munster’s commercial director Enda Lynch was appointed earlier this year having previously worked as a leading player in O2’s deals with sport in general and the IRFU in particular.
Mobile telecoms remains a strong sector for sports sponsorship in Ireland and further afield.  Eircom, 3 and Vodafone, as well as O2 are high level sponsors in sports such as GAA, Soccer, Rugby, Triathlon and Paralympics.
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