Rugby World Cup TV deal no help to fans

I WAS extremely annoyed that the International Rugby Board have given the rights for the 2007 World Cup to Setanta Sports instead of the Irish terrestrial channels RTÉ or TV3.

The Rugby World Cup is the game’s international showpiece, which is on display only every four years.

It should be used to promote and encourage the development of the game by the IRB/IRFU in this country.

Setanta Sports provided excellent coverage of Formula 1 motor-racing and the Celtic League when nobody else wanted to cover them. However, they are a long way from being a national channel. The IRB headquarters is based in Dublin and many people there and in Galway subscribe to NTL.

But what about the rest of the country? How are we going to watch the World Cup matches?

Young people are inspired by the sports stars they see on television. If most of them can’t watch the Rugby World Cup, how can they be inspired?

Liam Kidney

39 Ardleigh Park

Mullingar

Co Westmeath