O’Brien believed to be backing possible Super 15 franchise

BILLIONAIRE businessman Denis O’Brien is strongly believed to be the Irish backer of a possible Super 15 franchise on Australia’s Gold Coast.

News reports in Australia indicated that a “backer in Ireland” will get behind the bid on the condition that there is a Samoan presence in the squad.

A spokesman for Denis O’Brien last night said of the article which appeared in The Age newspapers that: “I think you can speculate on Denis O’Brien but I don’t think I’ll be able to confirm anything this evening.”