IRFU confirm new sponsor to replace Three in May 2016

The IRFU have confirmed a new sponsorship deal is in place to replace Three in May 2016.

It was been previously reported that Vodafone and Irish rugby had agreed a €50 million deal over 10 years. Philip Browne, the IRFU chief executive, flatly denied that figure and length of agreement but refused to comment on whether Vodafone are their incoming partner.

"The situation in relation to sponsorship is that we have an excellent sponsorship in place with Three which runs until the end of the current season so we're working very closely with Three and their people in relation to the Rugby World Cup and in relation to the Six Nations.

“In the relation to sponsorship on that the score is that yes we have another sponsor in place lined up to take over. I’m not at liberty to say who they are but one thing I can say is that the figures that were bandied about in the media of €50 million are so totally off the wall that I don’t know where they came from.”

Browne added the actual figures are “a fraction of that.”

The union also confirmed such deals are rarely more than “three to four years.”

Browne also confirmed the IRFU expect to break even this season despite losing out on three November internationals due to the World Cup. This is due to home and away test match arrangement with England over two World Cup cycles and a “special grant” from World Rugby.

30,000 are expected at the Aviva stadium for today’s test match against Scotland with 40,000 due when Wales come on August 28th.