Connacht in driving seat with new deal

CONNACHT have parted company with their long-time sponsors as they strive to financially match the other provinces following their elevation to the Heineken Cup.

Bank of Ireland, their sponsors for the past 14 seasons, have lost out to Mazda to be the main backers of Eric Elwood’s men as they finally make their Heineken Cup debut.

Bank of Ireland had hoped to continue as title sponsor but Connacht secured a more lucrative deal from the Japanese car manufacturers in what is believed to be a three-year deal.

The new deal was put together by the professional game board (PGB) which was appointed before Christmas and which took charge of the professional game in Connacht on July 1.

It is believed that negotiations with Mazda began before Connacht’s qualification for the Heineken Cup was secured when Leinster won the title in May.

Bank of Ireland came on board as Connacht sponsor shortly after the game went professional and the deal, worth an estimated €100,000 a year with extras, was renewed several times.

The new deal with Mazda, which will be officially launched next Tuesday, is believed to be worth considerably more and bring Connacht into line with the other three provinces.

Bank of Ireland, who announced their previous three-year deal with Leinster as a €6m package, renewed their sponsorship deal earlier this year but did not disclose the sum involved. The bank has a year to run on its deal with Ulster. That deal was described as the first £1m-plus sponsorship deal in Northern Ireland when it was announced a few seasons ago.