First big name AB signs to move post world cup - John Afoa

[Peat]

Yes, but sponsoring the All Blacks makes you the sponsor of the country's biggest sport, and the biggest rugby team on the planet, and sponsoring Ireland gets you the third biggest sport and perhaps the sixth biggest rugby team on the planet (being generous). I'd be surprised if sponsorship revenues were that different.

As for Irish players abroad - there's rumours linking Irish players with moves over the water all the time. And not just the big name ones. Most stay put, although you could make a fair team out of Irish players who are/have been Exiles.

 

[smartcooky]

Yes, but sponsoring the All Blacks makes you the sponsor of the country's biggest sport, and the biggest rugby team on the planet, and sponsoring Ireland gets you the third biggest sport and perhaps the sixth biggest rugby team on the planet (being generous). I'd be surprised if sponsorship revenues were that different.

As for Irish players abroad - there's rumours linking Irish players with moves over the water all the time. And not just the big name ones. Most stay put, although you could make a fair team out of Irish players who are/have been Exiles.

O2 is a Euro company (subsidiary of Telefonica?) so its sponsorship of Ireland isn't necessarily based around potential sales in Ireland. They know that the jersey is seen on television, in newspapers, magazines, and images and videos throughout the internet. the 470 million punters in Europe is the market they are targeting, not just the 6 million (?) in Ireland.

 

[Logorrhea]

the IRFU have no problem keeping hold of their players and paying for some marquee signings from abroad.

Its not really as simple as that anymore. The IRFU are increasingly finding it difficult to hold on to the cream of Irish rugby as the offers from abroad increase. They have managed to achieve it here with Leinster but only on 2 year deals. This could be a problem in two years if things dont improve.

They know that the jersey is seen on television, in newspapers, magazines, and images and videos throughout the internet. the 470 million punters in Europe is the market they are targeting, not just the 6 million (?) in Ireland.

Your are stretching your point beyond any credability. First of all the exposure outside of Ireland is minimal, people may see it but they take little interest in it. Secondly, there arent 470 million rugby fans in Europe. Its a minority sport that again generates not very much interest outside of the traditional areas.

The O2 deal is a local deal, made by O2 Ireland, with the irish market in mind. If they were interested in a european market they would use a brand recognisable to Europeans (Telefonica). A brand unknown in Ireland but recognisable all round the world.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Its not really as simple as that anymore. The IRFU are increasingly finding it difficult to hold on to the cream of Irish rugby as the offers from abroad increase. They have managed to achieve it here with Leinster but only on 2 year deals. This could be a problem in two years if things dont improve.

They may have found it more difficult but they've held onto everybody worth keeping.

It could be easier to tie players down in two years when Italian sponsorship comes into the Celtic League pot. Nobody knows. I'm a glass half full kind of guy!

 

[munstermuffin]

It's alot more than money though too. And this isn't a dig at SH players because they're right to come for money but in Ireland the pride of playing for your province as well as country is a super feeling that these players love. BOD I'm sure couldve been on twice the amount he's on now in past when Leinster weren't going great but he stuck around for a reason and that was simply pride in where he plays and I feel that is the mentality of alot of our top players here.

 

[smartcooky]

Your are stretching your point beyond any credability. First of all the exposure outside of Ireland is minimal, people may see it but they take little interest in it. Secondly, there arent 470 million rugby fans in Europe. Its a minority sport that again generates not very much interest outside of the traditional areas.

....and there aren't 6 million rugby fans in Ireland either, and their aren't 4 million rugby fans in NZ (despite what some would have use all believe)

The reality is that it is "Mind Share" marketing (a.k.a Top of Mind Advertising). I do not have the slightest interest in Wendyball, but I know that Arsenal are sponsored by Emirates Airlines, and Manchester United is sponsored by Aon (even though I had no idea who or what "Aon" were before I did a Google search). The reason I know this is because I see it on their shirts whenever there are sports news headlines in TV

There is no escaping the fact that in Europe, there are the Six Nations countries, all of whom are in close proximity to each other, and who have a combined total of over 3.17 million registered players, while in the combined NZ + Australia market, there are only 224,000.

Did you realise that Italy has more registered rugby players (66,000) than either Scotland (38,000) or Wales (51,000)?

 

[Logorrhea]

To quote you "the 470 million punters in Europe is the market they are targeting, not just the 6 million (?) in Ireland". Make your mind up, are they targetting the 470million European consumers, the traditional rugby fans in that region, or the traditional rugby fans that actually recognise the O2 brand (UK and Ireland only)?

Why are Irish brands looking at all of Europe while yours seem to exclude the South African or Argentinian markets?

Man Utd and Arsenal are global brands themselves, they are not appropriate to this discussion.

 

[smartcooky]

To quote you "the 470 million punters in Europe is the market they are targeting, not just the 6 million (?) in Ireland". Make your mind up, are they targetting the 470million European consumers, the traditional rugby fans in that region, or the traditional rugby fans that actually recognise the O2 brand (UK and Ireland only)?

I was answering your question!!!!!!!!!!

Why are Irish brands looking at all of Europe

I wasn't aware the O2 is an "Irish" brand. Is it?

while yours seem to exclude the South African or Argentinian markets?

I case you didn't read what I said earlier, I mentioned Fonterra, NZ biggest corporation, and the only one in NZ that is likely to have the kind of money that could pay enough in sponsorship to the NZRU so that they could stave off offers from cash rich European Clubs. They have no markets in either South Africa or Argentina, because they don't export anything to those countries. Their major markets are China and the rest of Asia, and Europe; in that order. You probably haven't ever heard of them, but you may well have consumed some of their products without realising it. Even eaten NZ Butter or cheese?