Tag: #rugby

HBO Max To Launch In The UK & Ireland On Thursday, March 26

For the first time ever, audiences in the UK and Ireland will be able to stream content from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios and Max Originals, all in one place on HBO Max, one might ask now is there a need or will we cancel something else to avail of this as the monthly subsriptions add up and are getting costly.

Award winning Max Original, The Pitt, will premiere in the UK & Ireland on HBO Max from launch, including all of the first season available from day one

2026 features one of HBO’s best ever slates, upcoming content will include new seasons of Euphoria and House of the Dragon, as well as the debut of Lanterns from DC Studios

Movie fans will be able to watch the Academy Award nominated slate and best of the box office including Superman, One Battle After Another, Sinners, A Minecraft Movie and Dune: Part One

Sports fans will access their TNT Sports streaming subscription via HBO Max in the UK starting Thursday, March 26

Subscribers will have four monthly entertainment plans to choose from starting at £4.99 per month, with viewers able to enjoy the complete HBO Max entertainment line-up, including recently released movies, starting at £5.99 per month in the UK & Ireland

In the UK & Ireland, the service will be available directly via hbomax.com and via launch partners including Sky and Prime Video

 

LONDON, UK – HBO Max, the premier global streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery, is launching in the UK and Ireland on Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Already available in over 110 territories worldwide, HBO Max offers the ultimate mix of best-in-class series, movies, extraordinary real-life stories and, via TNT Sports in the UK, live sport. For the first time, audiences in the UK and Ireland will be able to stream the exclusive collection of unmissable stories from HBO, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, DC Studios and Max Originals, all in one place via HBO Max.

HBO Max will also become the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK, giving subscribers access to top quality live sports content including the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup, Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, Gallagher PREM Rugby, Premiership Women’s Rugby, UFC, MotoGP, Grand Slam tennis, Grand Tour cycling and much more.

Unmissable Shows and Movies
At launch, the complete first season of 2025 Emmy, Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award Winning Max Original The Pitt will be available to stream for the first time in the UK and Ireland, with episodes of the latest second season rolling out weekly.

HBO Max will be the home of brand-new HBO Original series, including Lanterns, based on the iconic DC title “Green Lantern” which premieres summer 2026, and the highly anticipated Harry Potter TV series.

Within the first few months alone, subscribers will have access to a range of new HBO Original Series including DTF St. Louis, Rooster and the third and final season of The Comeback.

Beginning March 26, HBO Max will be the only place subscribers in the UK and Ireland can catch up on all seasons of the blockbuster HBO Original Euphoria, before the arrival of its highly anticipated third season in April.

In addition, an extensive range of the HBO and Warner Bros. Television libraries – from Succession to Friends, The Sopranos to Game of Thrones and more, will be available in full, exclusively on HBO Max.

Movie fans will also be able to enjoy the best of the box office including the record-setting Oscar-nominated One Battle After Another and Sinners, as well as Superman, A Minecraft Movie, Dune: Part One and rediscover the magic of the entire Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises.

New streaming home for TNT Sports
HBO Max will include the full range of TNT Sports content and live coverage. Subscribers can stream exclusive matches from the Premier League, Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League, as well as every Gallagher PREM Rugby match, Premiership Women’s Rugby, more than 1,000 live cycling broadcasts each year including every stage from the Tour de France, every match from the Australian Open and Roland-Garros, every MotoGP race, plus the World Snooker Tour, the winter sports season, Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and much more. With an unchanged price of £30.99 per month for TNT Sports, the service will offer subscribers a standalone TNT Sports plan or ability to purchase alongside select HBO Max plans1, providing fans with the ultimate sports streaming experience that includes innovative in-app features across key sports and events – putting fans in control of how they watch.

In March, sports fans will be able to enjoy a full weekend of live Gallagher PREM Rugby, plus more live football with Emirates FA Cup and UEFA Champions League quarter finals streaming live in early April.

Following HBO Max’s launch, TNT Sports will also continue to be distributed via existing partners in the UK & Ireland. discovery+ will continue as the streaming home of TNT Sports in the UK until TNT Sports moves to HBO Max on 26 March. From this time, fans who subscribe to TNT Sports via partners2 in the UK will be able to access it on HBO Max.

JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming and Games at Warner Bros. Discovery, said: “After decades of delighting audiences in the UK & Ireland with our remarkable stories and brands, it’s a huge thrill to finally bring it all together on HBO Max, and also offer it directly to all consumers. Starting at just £4.99 per month or £5.99 for our complete entertainment offer – HBO Max brings the most differentiated and best streaming offer to market.”

Andrew Georgiou President & Managing Director for Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe said: “Launching HBO Max in the UK & Ireland marks a significant moment for viewers here. HBO Max will offer them their most loved series and movies from HBO, Warner Bros. and DC Studios, alongside premium sports from TNT Sports in the UK, within an outstanding single destination for this great content and strong value proposition. Nowhere else will you be able to get The Pitt, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Lanterns, Superman, One Battle After Another, as well as the eagerly awaited Harry Potter series, all together.”

Accessible and flexible range of plans for every viewer
Beginning March 26, viewers in the UK and Ireland will have a range of entry points to HBO Max spanning four monthly entertainment plans, providing accessible and flexible options to suit all preferences. In the UK, TNT Sports is also available as standalone plan or can be purchased alongside select HBO Max entertainment plans1.

The following will be available from launch beginning March 26:

  • Basic with Ads (£4.99/month): Stream on 2 devices in Full HD
    • All the best HBO Max shows and movies, excluding movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • Standard with Ads (£5.99/month): Stream on 2 devices in Full HD, with 30 downloads3
    • All the best HBO Max shows and movies, including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • Standard (£9.99/month): Stream on 2 devices in Full HD, with 30 downloads3
    • All the best HBO Max shows and movies on an ad free basis,4 including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • Premium (£14.99/month): Stream on 4 devices in 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Atmos (where available) and 100 downloads3
    • The ultimate HBO Max experience with all the best HBO Max shows and movies on an ad free basis,4 including movies that first stream on the service following their theatrical release window.
  • TNT Sports Plan (£30.99/month): Including TNT Sports 1-4, TNT Sports Ultimate, live event feeds and TNT Sports Original Documentaries (limited to two of your available streams)
    • Can be purchased within the UK as a standalone plan or in addition to select entertainment plans1. 

Available direct and via launch partners
At launch HBO Max will be available direct from hbomax.com, for more details go to hbomax.com.

In addition, HBO Max launch partners in the UK & Ireland will include Sky and, announced today, Prime Video giving customers even more ways to access award-winning entertainment, movies and live sport .

Watch Your Way
HBO Max will be available on all major devices including TVs, set-top boxes, streaming devices, mobiles, tablets, game consoles and platforms including Android, EE / BT TV, Fire TV, iOS, LG, PlayStation, Roku, Samsung, Virgin TV and Xbox.

Subscribers will be able to create up to five personalised profiles, receive tailored recommendations and enjoy features like Continue Watching and, depending on your plan, offline downloads. Families will also be able to set up kid-friendly profiles with age-appropriate content and parental controls.

HBO Max will be available for pre-registration on the App Store and Google Play beginning March 12.

Global Expansion of HBO Max
The UK & Ireland launch marks a major milestone for the service as it completes its European rollout. HBO Max launched first in the US in 2020 and has since expanded across Latin America, Europe and Asia. For Q3 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery reported 128 million streaming subscribers.

Ergo Announced as Title Sponsor of Clontarf Rugby Club

Ergo, Ireland’s largest IT solutions provider, is proud to announce its sponsorship of Clontarf Rugby Club, ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season. The partnership reflects Ergo’s commitment to investing in its local community, with their headquarters located in nearby Eastpoint Business Park, Clontarf.

Paul McCann, Chief Executive Officer at Ergo, said, “We are incredibly proud to partner with Clontarf Rugby Club ahead of the upcoming All-Ireland League Rugby season. At Ergo, we believe in empowering local organisations that unite communities and inspire excellence. Clontarf Rugby embodies ambition, teamwork, and community spirit – values that closely align with our own. Through this partnership, we aim to help nurture the next generation of sporting talent while demonstrating our commitment to local initiatives.”

Through this partnership, Ergo will serve as the title sponsor of Clontarf Rugby Club, providing essential support to enhance the club’s facilities, overheads and outreach programmes. The sponsorship will play a vital role in supporting Clontarf Rugby’s continued growth and development, building upon their storied legacy as one of the most successful and longest-running All-Ireland League clubs.

Eoin Daly, Chairman of Clontarf Rugby Club, said, “We are grateful for Ergo’s significant investment in Clontarf Rugby Club. Their support will directly strengthen our facilities, programs, and the opportunities we offer to our players. Through this partnership, Ergo is not only backing our teams on the pitch but investing in the future of our entire club and community. Such commitment is vital for ensuring that Clontarf Rugby Club remains a thriving institution for generations to come.”

Photo credit  – Shane O’Neill – Coalesce.

Toyota Announced as Official Car Partner to The Camogie Association and GAA/GPA

Toyota Ireland has announced a new three-year partnership with The Camogie Association and GAA/GPA which sees Toyota become the Official Car Partner to these sporting organisations. The partnership is the latest in a long history of Toyota investing in and supporting Irish sport and athletes spanning Gaelic games, athletics, para-sport, rugby and cricket and at every level including men’s, women’s, grassroots, elite, able bodied and disability.

As part of the partnership, Dublin Camogie captain Aisling Maher and Galway footballer John Maher have been named as official Toyota ambassadors and will drive the Toyota C-HR Hybrid, which combines innovative design, style, Toyota’s cutting-edge hybrid technology and with reduced carbon emissions, it offers a smooth, low-emission driving experience – the perfect companion for winding down after training or a hard-fought match.

Commenting on the announcement, Steve Tormey, CEO of Toyota Ireland, said:

“Toyota has a proud history of supporting sport and athletes at both local and international levels. This new partnership is an investment in our national games and the inter-county players who are the heartbeat of the sport and role models for young children across the country. By supporting The Camogie Association, the GAA / GPA and our new ambassadors Aisling and John, we aim to deepen our connection with communities nationwide. Many of our Toyota dealerships already support their local GAA clubs, and this partnership builds on that grassroots commitment. It also reflects our belief in ‘Built for a Better World’ and by promoting inclusivity, community engagement, and supporting future generations through sport, we’re continuing our mission to improve lives and lead with purpose.”

 Brian Molloy, President of The Camogie Association, added:

“Having Toyota on board as a partner is a strong endorsement of the growing profile and significance of Camogie. We welcome Toyota’s support as we continue to develop and promote the game at every level.”

 Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Toyota as Official Car Partner. Toyota has supported the GAA for generations, and their continued commitment to Gaelic games is a testament to the strong bond they share with our communities. Their focus on sustainability and community mirrors our own values, and we look forward to the positive impact this partnership will bring to Gaelic games across the country.”

 Commenting on the announcement, Tom Parsons, CEO of the GPA:

“This partnership with Toyota represents a meaningful investment into the GPA and will strengthen our ability to support inter-county players the length and breadth of the country. It’s great to have a brand like Toyota who recognise the unique role GPA members, both male and female, play in Irish society, on board.”

Other Motoring news 

Irish Rugby stars unite to promote positive online experiences for young people

International stars from the Men’s and Women’s Irish Rugby Teams have joined forces to promote more positive online experiences among young people.
 
In collaboration with the Vodafone Foundation’s Tozi App, influential Irish rugby players Caelan Doris, Mack Hansen, and Josh van der Flier from the Men’s team, along with Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Fiona Tuite, and Dorothy Wall from the Women’s team, have created a series of online videos to support young people with their online experiences.

These videos share their personal experiences with digital resilience, emphasise the importance of kindness, and offer valuable advice to their 12-year-old selves.

The Vodafone Foundation Tozi App, developed in partnership with DCU Anti-Bullying Centre and Childline by ISPCC, aims to empower young people to navigate the digital world safely and positively.
 
As prominent sports figures, they have a substantial following on social media and frequently engage with both positive and negative interactions online. They shared their insights on managing the heightened presence of social media and offered advice to young people on handling the varied reactions they encounter.
 
Dorothy Wall, Ireland Women’s player, shared her advice to her 12-year-old self: “Your close people just want to make sure you’re okay. People around you are the most important thing and can lift you up when you’re low, but you need to let them know when you’re feeling down.”

Ireland Men’s Captain, Caelan Doris, highlighted the importance of kindness and how the smallest interaction, good or bad, can have the biggest impact: “It goes back to being kind, whether in person or online. It’s easy to post something negative or nice online, but you don’t always see the impact it might have on that person. So, be mindful and be kind.”

Ireland Women’s player, Fiona Tuite also gave advice to younger people on how to deal with negative comments online. She said: “It’s not the real world. These are anonymous people. Put the phone away. Who cares what they think. They don’t know anything about you your life or what’s going with you. Put the phone away and go talk to real people.”

The Tozi app is available for free download and usage from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
 
Liz Roche, Head of the Vodafone Foundation in Ireland emphasised the importance of the Tozi App in a challenging time for young people online: “With the increase in online activity among young people, the Tozi App provides research-backed resources and learning tools to help young people manage their online presence. Since its launch in 2023, Tozi has made a significant impact, achieving nearly 4,000 downloads. Polls have emerged as the most popular content type on the app, offering bite-sized, quick-reward content that allows users to test their knowledge and opinions while viewing responses from others. We recommend all parents and guardians to encourage their children to download the App if they have a phone. It is free to download and use, and available to everyone, regardless of their network provider.”
 
Tozi is designed to educate, empower, and support young people with a range of engaging features:

  • Cosmos: A rich content library offering stories, tips, and advice on handling common online challenges such as account hacks, ghosting, trolling, grieving, and self-esteem issues.

  • Live Help: Direct access to call or chat with Childline by ISPCC.

  • My Space: A private journaling area featuring a gamified diary and feelings-tracker.

International Rugby Experience to be Gifted to People of Limerick

One of Ireland’s leading visitor attractions, the state-of-the-art International Rugby Experience (IRE) on O’Connell Street, Limerick, will be donated by JP McManus and his family to the people of Limerick.
The IRE, initially funded through a €30 million investment by the JP McManus Charitable Foundation, is a fully immersive, hands on, multi-sensory experience designed to engage and inspire families and individuals alike. Inspired by World Rugby’s values of Passion, Discipline, Integrity, Solidarity and Respect, visitors hear the stories, feel the passion and test their own skills as they move through six, awe-inspiring stages inside the ‘Home of Legends’.
Following a process of due diligence, the 30,000 square foot centre will be owned and operated by Limerick City & County Council. It is envisaged that Discover Limerick DAC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Limerick City and County Council, will oversee the day-to-day operations, while the IRE will continue to be managed by the existing team appointed on opening last year.
Heads of Terms have been signed by both parties and the transition process will commence once due diligence is completed. This transaction will enhance the current offering of Discover Limerick DAC particularly for visitors also travelling to their other attractions, such as King John’s Castle, Lough Gur Visitor Centre and Adare Heritage Centre.
Designed by renowned architect, Níall McLaughlin, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) announced the IRE as the winner of the Public Choice category at the Irish Architecture Awards 2023 and the building has since been recognised internationally for its world class design and structure. The ground floor retail space, first floor café and event spaces will also come under the remit of the local authority.
It has been an eventful first year in operation for the IRE, with a star-studded launch last May featuring legends of the game such as Jonathan Sexton, Martin Johnson, Sean Fitzpatrick, Bryan Habana, Joy Neville, Matt Dawson, Danielle Waterman and Francois Pienaar.
International Rugby Experience CEO, Barry Hannon said: “Over the course of the first year in operation, we have seen our corner of O’Connell Street revitalised by the International Rugby Experience with visitors to the building from far and wide to partake in the AV experience, for our local food offering or to support one of the many local artists who are displaying in our gift shop. We would like to recognise Paul O’Connell and Keith Wood for their incredible insight and expertise to ensure the successful outcome of the project. The IRE has truly become the public and civic building we sought to create and this next stage of the journey in public ownership will protect the buildings legacy, outlasting us all for generations.”
Deputy Chief Executive of Limerick City & County Council, Gordon Daly added: “This is an exciting opportunity for the Council to add International Rugby Experience to our existing successful tourist attractions; King Johns Castle, Lough Gur, Limerick Greenway and Adare Heritage Centre and build stronger synergies to drive tourism development and promotion in Limerick. We are working closely with IRE to advance the due diligence process and commence the transition.”
For more information, or to book tickets, visit: www.internationalrugbyexperience.com

THE GIRLS IN GREEN LEGACY: Seeing Televised Professional Sport provides A Real Incentive To Take It Up, But Access To Local Clubs Is Vital

More than 2.4m people watched RTÉ television’s coverage of the Women’s Football World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last summer.  In that tournament, the Republic of Ireland’s game against Canada was the most watched women’s team sport event in Irish TV history with an average of 551,000 viewers.

New research from Royal London, the founding partner of the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Tour, shows the wider significance of viewing figures like these. Almost one in four (24%) of parents surveyed across Ireland say the more sport is shown on TV, the more likely their children are to take it up. Furthermore, 15% of parents in Ireland say their child took up a team sport after seeing it live professionally, and 15% say their child got into team sports as they were inspired watching a sporting role model on TV. However, the ability to play alongside their friends is also a big draw for children when it comes to sport, with more than one in three (35%) of the parents in Ireland surveyed citing the opportunity to play alongside their friends as the reason their children became interested in sport.

Over a fifth (23%) of parents in Ireland say their children have been involved in team sports due to having access to a local club. When looking at how realistic this is for children across Ireland, more than seven in ten (72%) of adults have a sports club within half an hour of their home. However, one in five (22%) have to travel longer than 30 minutes, while 6% don’t know where their local sports club is. Interestingly, while the numbers were low overall, of the women surveyed, they were seven times as likely as men not to know the location of their local sports club (7pc of women versus 1pc of men).

When reflecting on their own decision to take up team sports, 44% of adults in Ireland did so to play with friends and three in ten (30%) said it was a fun way to keep fit that wasn’t solo. A quarter (25%) were encouraged to play by a teacher or coach.

Shaunagh Brown, professional rugby player for England and Harlequins, says: “This Women’s Lions tour, the first of its kind, will allow more people to witness women playing rugby at a high level. I was interested, but not surprised, that the research showed more adults would consider taking up a team sport if they saw people who looked and sounded like them playing it. To believe you can do it, you have to see someone like you living, breathing and enjoying it. And, even if you don’t end up following a professional path with sport, the benefits you will feel from playing as part of a team in terms of greater confidence, resilience and improved social skills will be with you for the rest of your life.”

Susie Logan, chief marketing officer at Royal London says: “At present, through either a lack of airtime or wider exposure, some women’s sports have not yet been visible enough to inspire future generations.

The blend of seeing it played well on TV and taking it up with friends is key. Team sports create a community and can become an important part of a child’s development. We need to keep striving towards equality at all levels, whether that be what’s televised or at grassroots. Both are essential to create foundations for the future and give every child the inspiration and access they need to thrive playing team sport. This is why we’re proud to partner with the first British and Irish Lions Women’s Rugby Tour.

Royal London has been announced as Founding Partner of the first ever Lions Women’s team. The partnership will see Royal London invest in player development in each of The British & Irish Lions constituent Unions through the delivery of a special elite players’ Pathways Funding grant. The grants will support the elite women’s player and coach pathways in Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England, to help Unions develop more players and coaches capable of being selected for the inaugural Lions Women’s Tour. In addition, Royal London will also be investing in women’s and girls’ grassroots rugby across the UK and Ireland in the run-up to the Tour.”

Amazon in Dublin supports wheelchair rugby team

A wheelchair rugby club in county Laois has received a €1,000 donation from the team at Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dublin.

Formed in 2013, Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club supports wheelchair users who have a passion for the sport. The rugby club provides wheelchair users with the accessibility to be involved with non-wheelchair users and participate in the sport together.

The donation from Amazon in Dublin will go towards Wheelchair Rugby Support Equipment and team costs.

Alongside the donation, Declan Naughton from Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club visited Amazon in Dublin for a behind-the-scenes tour of the fulfilment centre.

Tadas Valaisa, an employee from Amazon in Dublin who nominated the charity for support, said:

“As a volunteer for the rugby club, the staff, players and other volunteers have a special place in my heart. I’m pleased that Amazon in Dublin is supporting Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club with this donation.”

Darragh Kelly, General Manager at Amazon in Dublin, said:

“We’re proud to support Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club with this donation. Tadas has raised awareness of the rugby club, and we couldn’t be more pleased to recognise his and the many other staff and volunteers’ service with this donation. We were pleased to welcome Declan on site too, to find out more about his involvement with the club and give him a tour of our workplace. It was a pleasure!”

Declan Naughton, from Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club, added:

“On behalf of everyone at Laois Wheelchair Rugby Club, I would like to say thank you to the team from Amazon in Dublin for their support. Not only are we here to support wheelchair users, we’re also here to provide a great workout with a bit of fun along the way. The donation will assist us as we prepare for the upcoming Irish league and a tournament in Germany at the end of March. Thank you also for hosting me on site – it was lovely to put faces to names.”

The donation to Laois Lions Wheelchair Rugby Club was made as part of Amazon’s programme to support the communities in and around its operating locations in Ireland.

Since opening its doors in 2022, the Dublin fulfilment centre has supported many community organisations locally, with donations totalling €46,000. Charities supported by the team at the fulfilment centre include Cliona’s Foundation, Jigsaw and LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

The Amazon fulfilment centre in Dublin, the first of its kind in Ireland, opened in August 2022 providing more than 500 new permanent jobs. The 630,000 square foot centre at Baldonnell Business Park in Dublin holds millions of items that are picked, packed and shipped to customers across Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Pinergy & Kearys driving an electric future for Munster Rugby

Energy specialist Pinergy, in partnership with Munster Rugby and Kearys Motor Group, was joined by Munster Rugby players Simon Zebo, Niall Scannell and Patrick Campbell at Musgrave Park for the announcement of the installation of EV (electric vehicle) charging technology and the distribution of electric vehicles to Munster Rugby staff.

The new initiative sees Pinergy and Kearys Motor Group working alongside Munster Rugby to begin migrating their car fleet to electric, supporting Munster Rugby’s ambitions to reduce staff emissions in their day-to-day travel. Pinergy will also install the latest Easee EV charging technology in Munster Rugby’s staff members’ homes, to help power their battery every morning. The Munster Rugby staff included in the partnership range from players, coaches, Development Officers, and administrative staff. Based on their needs, staff members availing of the new charging solutions will also be supported with the new Pinergy PowerUp App for EV drivers which enables the drivers to control and manage their charging needs.

Pinergy has supported Munster Rugby since 2017, through the provision of renewable energy as the province’s Official Energy Partner and through the offering of essential expertise to efficiently manage their energy use.

In November 2021, Munster Rugby – having taken steps to reduce carbon emissions since 2008 – first signalled their ambition to become one of the most sustainable clubs in world rugby by becoming one of a number of signatories to the Sports for Climate Action Framework (S4CA), run by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Munster Rugby pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2040.

Pinergy is serving as a lead partner to Munster Rugby in the development and implementation of its sustainability policy and supplies clean, renewable energy to Munster’s Thomond Park and Musgrave Park to help achieve their Net Zero ambitions by reducing their carbon footprint through a range of energy supply & solutions.

Speaking at the launch at Musgrave Park today, Pinergy Chief Executive Officer, Enda Gunnell commented: “It is fantastic to see the tremendous work and collaboration between Pinergy, Munster Rugby and Kearys Motor Group, who all share the same ambitions and values for a better, more sustainable future. This new partnership allows Munster Rugby staff members to drive change in their everyday lives, ensuring the sustainability of Munster Rugby remains a priority for the future. The new EV charging solutions showcases Pinergy’s commitment to helping Munster Rugby become one of the most sustainable sports clubs in the world, with our focus over the past six years remaining in innovation, collaboration, and a collective determination to make positive changes. We are delighted to support Munster Rugby on this journey and have no doubt that our long-standing partnership with the province will continue to lead towards a brighter, greener future for all at Munster Rugby.”

Ian Flanagan, Munster Rugby Chief Executive Officer, said: “At Munster Rugby, we are proud to continue developing our sustainable habits for a greener future.

“We are delighted to have Pinergy and Kearys Motor Group supporting our staff in making a difference first-hand to our carbon footprint and contributing to our greener ambitions.

“This EV project partnership is an inspiring step forward in our sustainability commitment as we continue to target reaching Net Zero by 2040.”

Brendan Keary, CEO, Kearys Motor Group, said: “We are delighted to partner with Munster Rugby and Pinergy to contribute to Munster Rugby’s vision of a more sustainable future, not just for rugby in the province, but also life in the community. Our shared commitment to excellence and innovation makes this partnership a truly exciting one, and through providing electric vehicles to some of the dedicated staff members of Munster Rugby, we are not only supporting the club’s journey towards Net Zero carbon emissions, but also setting a new standard for responsible, sustainable living nationwide.”

Committed to Munster Rugby, Pinergy is also proud sponsor of the Munster Rugby Supporters Club Choir as well as being title sponsors of the Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup continuing to back the future of rugby in the province.

BearingPoint renews Leinster Rugby sponsorship as Official Innovation Partner

Management and technology consultancy BearingPoint, has today announced the renewal and extension of its sponsorship with Leinster Rugby as part of a new five-year contract. BearingPoint will continue to partner with the club as their Official Innovation Partner with the aim of helping Leinster realise the potential of its people, technology and ideas.

As part of its new five year contract, BearingPoint will now expand its sponsorship to support the women’s game, with BearingPoint becoming the title sponsor for the Under-17 regional Sarah Robinson Cup.

In addition, BearingPoint will become the new title sponsor for the regional Under-16 Shane Horgan Cup and will sponsor the Women’s Young Player of the Year Award at the end of season awards. Current Leinster Rugby players Tadhg Furlong, Ciarán Frawley, Dannah O’Brien and Ella Roberts are examples of the talent that has come through these underage competitions.

As Innovation Partner, BearingPoint will continue to support the achievement of Leinster Rugby’s goals by providing digital transformation, technology implementation and consulting services.Commenting at the announcement, Gillian O’Sullivan, Country Leader for BearingPoint in Ireland, said: “Leinster Rugby is a well-established high-performance organisation. BearingPoint’s Innovation Partnership over the past five years has contributed positively to creating a successful environment within Leinster Rugby. We are delighted to be continuing our sponsorship with Leinster Rugby and look forward to further collaborative innovation. We are particularly excited to be expanding our sponsorship into the female game through our sponsorship of the Sarah Robinson Cup.”

Over the last five years as Innovation Partner, BearingPoint has implemented a number of innovation projects, from fan engagement, virtual reality experiences and facilitating innovation bootcamps with staff from Leinster Rugby’s Centre of Excellence and Academy.

Shane Nolan, Leinster Rugby CEO, commented: “We are delighted in Leinster Rugby to be renewing our partnership with BearingPoint. Since 2018, they have been a key part of the wider Leinster family and we have thoroughly enjoyed working with Gillian O’Sullivan and Eric Conway who made those early days and indeed the days since then, very easy on our part and very quickly a spirit of partnership and cooperation was formed.

“As a club, we are continually looking to innovate and BearingPoint has been a crucial partner in driving innovation at Leinster Rugby. As recently as last year we explored the possibilities of the metaverse with BearingPoint. This was Leinster Rugby’s first foray into this area and one we plan to explore further with BearingPoint. The announcement today allows us to do that and we are hugely excited to now be further cementing the relationship so that we may continue to explore what can be done between both our organisations over the coming years.”

Nolan added: “Leinster Rugby is keen to be market leaders and innovators in everything we do and partners like BearingPoint are vital in helping us achieve that.”