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.”

He added: “I know he (Denis O’Brien) has supported the Samoan rugby team and he’ll probably continue to do it.”

The Digicel mobile phone magnate entered the Pacific Islands telecommunications industry in September 2006 acquiring Telecom Samoa, and became the main sponsor of Samoan rugby as well as setting up a fund large enough to ensure the island’s top 40 players did not have to move elsewhere.

O’Brien entered a war of words with the New Zealand Rugby Union last February, accusing them of “pinching” the island’s best players by promising hefty salaries.

“I hate bullies and New Zealand bullies the islands,” he said at the time.

Samoa backed down last week on making a stand-alone bid at becoming the 15th Super rugby team in SANZAR’s (Super Rugby organisers) expanded tournament in 2011.

However, Samoa have been talking to Australasian syndicates including Gold Coast Rugby.

“They (Samoa) are still talking to us and part of that is sponsorship,” said Gold Coast chief executive, Tim Rowlands.

“They have a backer in Ireland that we’re talking to with Samoa who says that he’ll put some money in if there is a Samoan presence in the team.

“We have another potential investor in Japan who wants Japanese players involved in the Coast team.”

Seven ventures have lodged expressions of interest to the Australian Rugby Union at becoming the 15th Super rugby team. They include Western Sydney, New South Wales Country, three from Victoria, the Gold Coast, and another unknown interested party in Queensland. SANZAR will offer the 15th licence by October 31.