Vodafone was officially confirmed yesterday as the new main sponsor of Irish Rugby.
Sport for Business had revealed as far back as July 2014 that Vodafone was the most likely replacement for Three who took a decision not to renew the deal they had inherited from O2 Ireland.
The new deal is for a period of four years, tying it in to beyond the next Rugby World Cup Cycle. A decision on whether Ireland will succeed in bidding to host the 2023 World Cup will also be made during the term of this new deal.
No figure was placed on the value of the contract but it does run deep as Vodafone also takes on the role of official telecoms partner to the IRFU and the Aviva Stadium.
The previous deal with O2 and then Three is believed to have been worth around €2.5M per annum and this is a significant step up on that.
You can read more about how that deal will benefit fans in our exclusive interview with Vodafone CEO Anne O’Leary.
The announcement was made yesterday with online coverage getting under way before 8am and continuing through social media and online as the new Canterbury jersey and the brand was revealed.
The press conference to announce the deal was pushed back to yesterday afternoon as a mark of respect to Devan Toner whose father’s funeral took place yesterday morning.
Joe Schmidt, Rory Best, Keith Earls, Ultan Dillane and Jamie Heaslip were all at the Aviva for the launch alongside a strong team from Vodafone, Philip Browne, Padraig Power and Stephen McNamara from the IRFU.
“We are delighted to be welcoming Vodafone to Irish Rugby’s family of sponsors,” said IRFU CEO Philip Browne.
“They are a leading global technology brand with a proven track record on sponsorship.”
“We look forward to working closely with the Vodafone teamed helping them realise their ambitious strategies to enhance the fan experience.”
Canterbury have produced a new Ireland shirt with the new sponsor. Less than a year after the launch of the last new jersey for the Rugby World Cup it may be slower to fly off the shelves than hoped for but there was talk yesterday of a jersey amnesty initiative which will assist.
The new deal comes into effect from tomorrow June 1st and the team will be wearing their new branded kit on the tour to South Africa as well as in the Guinness Series of Autumn internationals against Canada, Australia and New Zealand later this year.
The announcement of the deal was managed yesterday by PSG Sponsorship and Target McConnells have also been involved in the planning and the activations that will become evident over the coming weeks and months.
