Greencore plc Announces Academy Partnership

Munster Rugby today announce details of a three year partnership with Greencore Group plc, the leading international convenience food group, to sponsor the Munster Rugby Academy.

The two-way partnership will focus on a number of initiatives in areas such as nutrition and business mentoring support to Academy players.

The Academy will now be known as the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy.

The Academy which is central to the sustainability of Munster professional rugby has produced some of Ireland’s leading players since its inception including Keith Earls, Conor Murray and Munster Captain Peter O’Mahony. It has also proved a productive pipeline for emerging young players such as David Kilcoyne, Simon Zebo and JJ Hanrahan.

The Academy is a 3 year development programme whose purpose is to produce excellent professional players for Munster and Irish Rugby. The programme develops players along 5 streams – Rugby Tactical, Rugby Technical, Physical, Mental and Lifestyle.

Led by Elite Player Development Manager Peter Malone, the candidates for the Academy are determined through the talent identification programme in schools and clubs throughout the Province. The Academy currently comprises 20 players in total.

The Greencore sponsorship of the Munster Rugby Academy, together with a newly established Patrons programme, will support the operating costs of the Academy. The Patrons programme comprises Founder Patrons who support two Academy players each and Academy Patrons who support one player each for the duration of their involvement.

Amongst those who have committed to becoming a Founder Patron are Niall FitzGerald KBE and Leslie Buckley.
The initiative for this sponsorship and Patrons programme for the Academy has come from the Munster Rugby Commercial Board.

This substantial funding support stands alongside that of Munster Rugby Supporters Club members who have contributed toward the Academy for a number of years.

Patrick Coveney, Chief Executive of Greencore said: “The opportunity for Greencore to partner with the Munster Rugby Academy in facilitating and encouraging the professional development of talented young sportspeople represents a great fit with our own business objectives. We look forward to supporting the Academy in a number of practical ways and playing a productive role in the future of Munster Rugby.”

Peter Malone, Munster Rugby Elite Player Development Manager noted: “Greencore’s sponsorship of the Munster Rugby Academy helps us in building a programme which continues to produce leading rugby professionals in a best in class environment. I’m excited by the opportunities that lie ahead with Greencore for the players and backroom team.”

Niall FitzGerald KBE, Chair of the Munster Rugby Commercial Board said: “The role of the Commercial Board is to strengthen the sustainability of Munster Rugby at the highest level. Central to this is the continued flow of talented young players. It is very fitting that one of the first major initiatives of the Commercial Board underpins the long term funding of the Munster Rugby Academy."

View the 2013/14 Academy players here.