The most important of this week’s big Rugby matches featuring England against ireland is the one at Donnybrook on Friday night where the Championship, Triple Crown and Grand Slam are all on the line in the Women’s game.
The main focus of media attention and that of fans though will still be the following day when Joe Schmidt’s and Eddie Jones’ teams take to the field.
Sport is all about winning or losing on the day and then moving on but on Saturday there will be a number of significant farewells.
Ulster Bank have enjoyed branding and partnership with this stand out sporting series as part of the RBS group over the past 14 years.
On Saturday they will as before bring key clients, friends and influencers to a preview event at their offices on George’s Quay before a luxury bus trip to the Stadium and the best seats in the house for the game.
Over the last 14 years they have shaken hands on deals and forged relationships that have grown up and grown together through some of the most turbulent years ever experienced by banking in Ireland.
They have survived in part because of the trust that business and personal customers have with the brand. That’s the kind of trust that is tangible in the services offered but in many ways differentiated by the personal friendships and relationships that come to life against a background not of contracts but of great moments.
Ulster bank were there when Ireland hosted England at Croke Park in 2007. They have been there, and brought customers with them through that kick from Ronan O’Gara, those tries from Brian O’Driscoll and those instances of magic that sport provides.
They will retain a relationship with Rugby through their community partnership with the IRFU and their sponsorship of the domestic League.
Whether they look to expand in other sporting areas is now an important question, one which they have been considering since the end of the RBS deal was announced in 2016.
Having previously been a sponsor of the All Ireland Football Championship they understand sport and the benefits it brings. Where to next will be one of the bigger questions of 2017 in the sponsorship world.
Neither are they the only farewell that Saturday will bring.
Speaking of that Ronan O’Gara kick in Cardiff how many can see that in their mind without the soundtrack of Ryle Nugent’s commentary?
‘”He’s got it”
Well Saturday will be the last time we will have RTÉ as companions for those great moments, at least for a while as the TV contract rests with TV3 from 2018.
Of course we lose the voices and picture carriers that we grow up with. From Bill McLaren and Sir Peter O’Sullevan to Peter Allis and Micheál O’Hehir, they light up sport but nothing stays forever.
RTÉ have provided wonderful windows on a world that has inspired the nation through decades of coverage. They may be back again but listen out for a crack in Ryle’s voice on Saturday as the weight of history comes down on this particular chapter…
