IRFU signs new AIB deal
The Irish Rugby Football Union and AIB have announced a new five-year partnership as they launched the IRFU Community Rugby Programme.
The programme includes a series of rugby competitions and club development support initiatives.
The first level of partnership will see the continued sponsorship of the AIB League, which has been sponsored by AIB for the last eight seasons. As part of this, there will be a new structure for the AIB League for the 2005 - 06 season, with 16 clubs contesting each championship.
As well as promotion and relegation across all three divisions, each of the semi-final winners will be playing for their respective divisional titles on the AIB League finals day.
In addition to this, a new AIB senior and junior cup competition will be initiated with representatives from all four provinces being put forward for participation, culminating in a cup final in April.
The club game will also be given an international stage on which to perform with Ireland playing a club international of which the selected team will consist purely of club players.
The International will be played against a similar Scotland selection on Friday, March 10 in Donnybrook on the same weekend as Ireland's home game in the RBS 6 Nations Championship, as part of the weekend international programme of matches.
