MAZDA CONFIRMED AS NEW SPONSOR OF CONNACHT RUGBY

Galway, Tuesday 9th August, 2011: Mazda has been confirmed as the Official Title Sponsor of Connacht Rugby at a joint announcement by Mazda and Connacht Rugby at The Sportsground, Galway today.  Mazda will invest over €1.5m in Connacht Rugby over the next 3 years as part of major sponsorship deal which will facilitate the development of both brands.

With Connacht Rugby’s participation in the Heineken Cup this season, the support offered by Mazda as Official Title Sponsor of the club will allow Connacht Rugby to build on the excellent work carried out both on and off the field last season and compete at the highest level in club rugby, testing their skills against the toughest opposition in Europe. Connacht Rugby supporters will also get the unique chance to see some of rugby’s biggest names in action on their own doorstep.

Commenting on the announcement, Eric Elwood, Head of Coaching, Connacht Rugby, said, “This is a very exciting year for Connacht Rugby with the Heineken Cup coming to Galway, the newly branded RaboDirect PRO12 and now our new sponsor Mazda joining us as our official title sponsor. Mazda and Connacht share a lot of common values in terms of drive, passion and performance and there are huge opportunities for us to work successfully together over the next 3 years.”

As Official Title Sponsor, Mazda will work closely with Connacht Rugby to develop marketing activities which will help drive support for Connacht Rugby across the province, using big match days to really bring the sponsorship to life for supporters.
According to Michael Howe, Country Manager, Mazda Ireland, “Mazda Ireland is delighted to be the new title sponsor for Connacht Rugby. The passion and ambition of Connacht’s management and supporters is immense. We are thrilled to support this exciting new chapter in Connacht Rugby’s proud history.

“Mazda, like Connacht, is beginning an important new chapter, as we prepare to launch our 6th generation of cars with SkyActiv Technology.  This technology will deliver major fuel savings and emission reductions, whilst retaining Mazda’s fun to drive characteristics.  The sponsorship of Connacht Rugby provides an excellent platform for new customers to experience our cars.”

The synergies between Connacht Rugby and Mazda were also underlined by Fiona Keys, Commercial Manager, Connacht Rugby, who said, “We are delighted to welcome Mazda as the new title sponsor of Connacht Rugby. Mazda is an innovative and exciting brand with ambition, fighting spirit and passion which aligns itself very well with Connacht.  We are looking forward to working on building both brands over the next three years and excited about harnessing the opportunities that lie ahead!”
For more on Connacht Rugby visit, www.connachtrugby.ie. For more on Mazda visit, www.mazda.ie.

Pic (C) www.inpho.ie Connacht's Michael Swift, Gavin Duffy, Johnny O'Connor, Mark McCrea and John Muldoon at todays launch of Mazda as title sponsor. Further pictures available from www.inpho.ie

Connacht moved their training operations to Hamilton Park, the home of Sligo RFC for a preseason, open trainng session. A huge crowd turned out to watch the Connacht team in their final preparations ahead of next weekends clash with the Exeter Chiefs in Dubarry Pk, Athlone. Sligo Rugby Club had organised bouncy castles, games and a bbq and supportes had a chance to mingle with the players after the training session. Here are some pictures of the day:

The crowd  (including Sligo RFC's Pat Curran) watch on as Connacht train

Dave Nolan and Johnny O'Connor lift George Naoupu in the shadow of Knocknarea

Members of the iRadio team with some young Connacht fans

Mark Dolan watches on as Frank Murphy gets the backline firing

Young Connacht fans getting some tips from the professionals

Scrumhalfs Dave Moore and Frank Murphy with the peak of Benbulben in the background

TJ Anderson is hoisted high by Dave Nolan watched on by Head of Strength and Conditioning Tom McLoughlin (background)

Connacht’s Mike McCarthy will earn his first senior cap when Ireland line out against Scotland this Saturday. Mike “Macca” McCarthy earned his 100^th cap for Connacht in the Amlin Challenge Cup against Bayonne last season and has been integral to Eric Elwood’s side since returning to Connacht in 2007. Along with joining the elite group of centurions in the Connacht squad the 6’ 4, 110kg utility forward has 67 caps (including 7 Heineken Cup appearances) for the Newcastle Falcons. 29 year old McCarthy who can play in any position in the backrow and 2^nd row has featured heavily in the extended Ireland squads since making his debut for the Ireland Wolfhounds against the England Saxons last February.

Mike will join former Connacht hookers Jerry Flannery and Sean Cronin in the clash against Scotland this Saturday as Ireland Head Coach Declan Kidney prepares his squad ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next month.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Scotland, 2011 Rugby World Cup Warm-Up Test, Murrayfield, Saturday, August 6, kick-off 2.15pm):

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
13 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
12 - Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)
11 - Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
1 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
2 - Sean Cronin (Leinster)
3 - Tony Buckley (Sale Sharks)
4 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
5 - Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster) (capt)
6 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht)
7 - Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster)
8 - Denis Leamy (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Replacements:

16 - Jerry Flannery (Shannon/ Munster)
17 - Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
18 - John Hayes (Bruff/Munster)
19 - Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
21 - Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
22 - Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster)

Pic (c) www.inpho.ie