Celtic Rugby Announces Magners Irish Cider Sponsorship

Celtic Rugby is delighted to announce that Magners Irish Cider is to become the inaugural Title Sponsor of Celtic Rugby s League competition. The competition will be named the Magners League .

Celtic Rugby is delighted to announce that Magners Irish Cider is to become the inaugural Title Sponsor of Celtic Rugby s League competition. Using the company s international brand, the competition will be named the Magners League until 2008.

Last season the League s attendance record was broken five times resulting in a 20% increase in average attendance. Magners commitment to invest substantially in all countries involved over the next two years will ensure the continued growth of the competition.

John Hussey, Chairman of Celtic Rugby, commented on the announcements:

We have worked hard to secure the future of Celtic Rugby, and with the new title sponsorship agreement in place we are very confident the Magners League will grow to become one of leading competitions in world rugby.

Maurice Breen, Marketing Director of Bulmers Ltd commented:

We are delighted to have secured Title Sponsorship of this exciting competition. As our quality cider continues to increase its market share in the UK, we have been looking for a sponsorship that fits with our brand image and helps us develop that market. That s why we opted to use the international Magners brand for the new League, as it is made up of teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The Magners League is an ideal package as it not only reaches our new markets in Scotland and Wales, but also benefits Rugby in Ireland, which is, after all, our home country. Working together Bulmers and Celtic Rugby have an exciting vision for the future of the Magners League and we see this complementing both our ambitions in Ireland and the UK.

The sponsorship deal builds on Bulmers existing commitment to Irish Golf, through our sponsorship of the Bulmers Cups and Shields as well as Rugby Union with the Magners-brand Shirt Sponsorships of the Edinburgh Gunners and London Wasps.

David Jordan, Director of Celtic Rugby said:

The decision by Magners to partner with Celtic Rugby demonstrates that the strategic review that we undertook has delivered success. Our partnership with Magners is an exciting one and we look forward to working together over the coming years. Magners share our vision for the future of the competition and to have them as our inaugural Title Sponsor is a huge endorsement of the competition.

Celtic Rugby is delighted to announce the fixtures for the 2006/7 season. Details for the official launch of the Magners League will follow.