Permanent tsb ends rugby team sponsorship

Permanent tsb bank and the IRFU have confirmed that the bank will not be renewing its sponsorship of the Irish team following the expiry of the current agreement at the end of May.

The IRFU has thanked permanent tsb for its strong support for Irish rugby over the past 13 years.

PTSB marketing boss Niall O’Grady said: "When this sponsorship began (1993) it was negotiated between what was then the mutually-owned building society, The Irish Permanent, and an IRFU which was still largely an amateur organisation presiding over an amateur game. Today both organisations have changed beyond recognition."

But he added: "In every sponsorship relationship, there comes a time to move on."