The principal sponsor of the Ireland rugby team, Permanent TSB, has confirmed it will not be renewing its sponsorship of the national side.
Although news of this first aired last month, Permanent TSB and the IRFU had yet to confirm that the deal, worth some €1 million a year to the association, would indeed end.
The bank, who first sponsored the Irish team in 1993 as Irish Permanent, will cease its sponsorship when the current contract expires at the end of May.
However, it all but ends next month as Ireland have no games between the time they close their Six Nations campaign on March 18th and play their opening game of the New Zealand tour on June 10th.
"In every sponsorship relationship, there comes a time to move on," Niall O'Grady, Head of Marketing with Permanent TSB said. "We've thoroughly enjoyed our involvement with the national team.
". . . but thirteen years is longer than most relationships of this sort would be expected to continue and we believe now is the right time to look for other opportunities."
IRFU president Andy Crawford thanked the bank for its sponsorship but refused to speculate on a new partner. At present, the IRFU has some 20 clients sponsoring the game in Ireland.
