New sponsorship deal for Connacht Rugby

Probiotic drinks company Yakult Ireland is to sponsor the Connacht Rugby team in terms of providing product support to the club for the 2009/10 season.

It is the first sports partnership that Yakult has undertaken in Ireland, although globally since July 2005, Yakult has been an official partner of the FINA World Championships and the FINA World Swimming Championships.

"The popularity of rugby is going from strength to strength, and we are delighted to be part of a grass roots organisation such as Connacht rugby,” said Michael Buckley, Marketing Manager for Yakult Ireland.

“Yakult Ireland is delighted to associate its well established brand with such a progressive sport and specifically with the Connacht Rugby team.

“Our partnership allows us to educate people on the benefits of good gut health and strengthening the bodies natural defences, as we will be able to take our product out into community and promote its consumption as part of a healthy active lifestyle.”

Connacht Rugby marketing manager Fiona Keys stated: "We are very happy to be working with Yakult. This is an innovative brand who invest considerable resources in health and well-being and looking at improving the health of Irish people.

“We feel confident that this relationship will help take both ourselves and Yakult to new levels in the forthcoming season.”