Rugby League Ireland announced today the title sponsorship by McGettigan’s for the 2015 season. This exclusive sponsorship agreement sees the McGettigan’s branding across all the teams involved in rugby league in Ireland from the domestic clubs, schools, students, State of Origin, wheelchair and Senior teams. It also sees rugby league coming to the Carlisle Grounds in Bray where the Student 4 Nations will be held at the historic stadium.
Speaking on the announcement, Rugby League Ireland director Richard Egan said “RLI are delighted to announce McGettigan’s as our title sponsor and we are thrilled with the opportunities that this presents us in our development of the game of rugby league in Ireland.
McGettigan’s is a company that is expanding around the world and is at an exciting time in its growth and we look forward to this relationship developing into the future and thank Dennis and the team for the support they are showing us. There are also parallels between RLI and McGettigan’s.
Rugby League was first played in Dublin around the time that Jim McGettigan opened his first bar in Dublin and now in 2015 both McGettigan’s and RLI are in growth phases and looking to the future. McGettigan’s is an organisation that supports sport and Irish sports people and we are delighted with this partnership and look forward to both bringing rugby league to Bray and representing the McGettigan’s brand across the rugby league community.”
Dennis McGettigan’s, CEO of McGettigan’s added "We are extremely excited to team up with Rugby League Ireland. Sport is a massive part of what we do at McGettigan's. Having the McGettigan's logo of the Irish team kits is something we are very proud of! We hope this is the start of a long and wonderful relationship with RLI
The 2015 McGettigan’s All Ireland league will start on the 9th May with the McGettigan’s 9’s tournament and then the McGettigan’s Ulster, Leinster and Munster championships start the following week culminating in the All Ireland final on the 1st August. Bray will host the Student 4 Nations from 14-19th June with teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing in the annual student event which has seen stars of the future born.
The Royal Hotel Bray will host all teams and the games will take place in the Carlisle Grounds on the Sunday, Tuesday and Friday of that week. Following the domestic season will be the McGettigan’s State Of Origin where the Republic of Ireland Eagles will be looking to retain their title against the Northern Ireland Elks.
A Leinster venue will host the game on August the 8th with the return fixture in Northern Ireland the following week. Following these game, the Senior team will play international fixtures.
Ireland will see the development of the game and our best domestic talent take a new start when we take on other developing nations both in Ireland and on trips to nations around Europe and this will be followed in November when the European Championship group A resumes and Ireland look to go one better than 2014 and look to win the competition.