AIB extends League sponsorship into 2005

ALLIED IRISH BANKS (AIB) is to extend its sponsorship of the All Ireland League for a further season and seems determined to continue a big involvement in rugby beyond.

The bank, which has sponsored the League for the past seven seasons, has agreed to the new deal to afford both IRFU and the clubs the time to come up with a new format for season 2005/2006, an issue already debated and now, apparently, agreed between most of the people involved.

Developments in Irish professional rugby have left a lot of people angry as the ground was literally taken from under the grassroots of the game.

The positive news is that, finally, all Irish senior clubs have banded together as the elite and workhorse clubs finally recognised that it was a one for all or all for nothing situation.

The AIB League 2004/2005 Season will officially kick off on Saturday October 16 and continue until the AIB League Finals are scheduled for Saturday May 7, 2005.

Meanwhile, the IRB have announced match official appointments for the forthcoming series of 22 international matches in November/December, and for the 2005 Six Nations.

Irishman Alain Rolland will control two of the Autumn internationals, England v South Africa and France v New Zealand. He will also be in charge of the Six Nations clash between England and Scotland.

Alan Lewis will referee the Scotland/Australia game in November and Dónal Courtney will take charge of the Six Nations clash between Italy and France.