Con sponsor joins IRFU critics

ONE of the top individual club sponsors of the Ulster Bank League has joined in the criticism of the Irish Rugby Football Union for their treatment of the domestic game.

Smarting from what he terms as “a lack of respect”, Shay Livingstone, General Manager of Cork’s Rochestown Park Hotel, sponsors of Cork Constitution, said it was time for the Union to take note of the huge financial contribution of dozens of club sponsors, and of their concerns.

Mr Livingstone expressed particular annoyance that a letter he wrote on headed paper to the IRFU head office on April 2, copies of which were addressed to particular members of the committee and marketing arms of the Union, was not responded to.

“They didn’t even have the decency to acknowledge the letter even though my company has spent tens of thousands sponsoring one of the top teams in the country.”

The sponsor said initially: “It has come to my attention from a number of sources that the IRFU will be imposing restrictions on clubs regarding contracted players for next season. I am the club sponsor of Cork Constitution and it saddens me to think what the implications of such an initiative might do (to) the league and the quality of player in some senior clubs.

“We, as sponsors believe a vibrant club structure is necessary to maintain the professional game and to support the continued growth in the popularity of rugby in Ireland and our belief is that the programmes in Cork Constitution are designed to maintain and develop support structures in the most appropriate way.”

He went on: “I have experienced the honesty of effort in all grades in Cork Constitution. I watch my son play with the minis on Saturdays and the effort the club puts into its underage is worth coming to Cork to see.

On the drain of players to the professional ranks , he said: “Cork Constitution have produced a crop of professionals, the like of Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer and also to aspiring professionals such as Billy Holland, Peter O’Mahony and Simon Zebo, who have worn the jersey of both Munster and Cork Constitution this season.

“It is with these players in mind that I am disappointed as a sponsor to learn that with the new ruling some of the players above who have played with Cork Constitution since the age of six may not be offered the opportunity to play rugby with its own club when not selected with Munster.

“Cork Constitution and the Rochestown Park Hotel have worked in partnership and collaboration and as sponsor I also have to be cognisant of value for my own shareholders. I sponsor the club not just because of the exposure and value I receive from the efforts on the senior pitch but also because of the underage programmes, their community engagement and the active membership in the club.

He concluded: “I encourage a ruling regarding giving contracted players the right to play for their club. I do not know of any other code or sport where a club player is penalised for striving for excellence in their field. The IRFU if it continues with this action will only damage the AIL in the eyes of a sponsor.”