RUGBY: The Celtic League has finally secured a title sponsor for the competition following five years of going it alone. Magners Irish Cider have stepped in to sponsor the event up until 2008 in a reported six-figure deal.

The competition began in the 2001-2002 season with teams from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Ulster are the current holders. Leinster and Munster have also won the title, in the first and second seasons respectively, but have not always committed fully to it.

Last season, when Irish teams were placed first, second and third, the league's attendance record was broken five times, resulting in a 20 per cent increase in average attendance.

Throughout the season nearly 600,000 fans watched 110 Celtic League games live, during which 4,623 points were scored, including 484 tries, an average of 42 points and 4.4 tries per match.

Magners' commitment to invest substantially in all countries involved with Celtic rugby over the next two years should help ensure the continued growth of the competition. The sponsorship deal builds upon Magners' existing commitment to rugby union as shirt sponsors of the Edinburgh Gunners and London Wasps.

"The decision by Magners to partner with Celtic Rugby demonstrates that the strategic review that we undertook has delivered success," said David Jordan, director of Celtic Rugby. "Magners share our vision for the future of the competition and to have them as our inaugural title sponsor is a huge endorsement of the competition."

The first matches for the competition take place on Friday, September 1st, when Munster travel to the Arms Park for a meeting with Cardiff and Ulster face Llanelli at Ravenhill. Connacht are also in action, against the Borders in Netherdale. Leinster begin their campaign a week later in round two.

Michael Cheika and his side travel to Murrayfield for their opening match, against Edinburgh.

Cheika recently ticked the final item on his summer shopping list by signing the former South African under-21 hooker Harry Vermaas. The 22-year-old played for the leading provincial side Blue Bulls last season and is equally adept at loosehead prop.

The former Leinster outhalf Andy Dunne is back training with the province after three years with Harlequins and Bath in the English premiership.

The former Munster backrow Stephen Keogh and the retired Australian internationals Owen Finegan and Chris Whitaker have also joined pre-season training.

The frontline internationals return to training this weekend.

Coach Cheika, however, is particularly impressed with the younger arrivals: "Andy Dunne is doing well having come in off his own bat. Stephen Keogh has been impressive, while Owen and Chris have fitted straight in, but it is the new development players like Luke Fitzgerald and Ross McCarron that have really impressed."

Meanwhile, in August 2007 the home of Ulster rugby, Ravenhill Road, will host a full Ireland international for the first time in 53 years.

Italy will provide the opposition in a warm-up game prior to the World Cup. The last Ireland match at Ravenhill was against Scotland in the 1953-1954 season.