THE PRO12 ARE set to announce a new sponsor on Thursday, with Guinness having emerged as the front runners to replace RaboDirect.
The world-renowned Irish brewery would represent a strong fit with the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Italian league, given their existing involvement with rugby and previous stint as sponsors of the English Premiership.
RaboDirect, an online banking firm, sponsored the Pro12 for the last three seasons, having taken over from Magners in 2011. The Dutch company termed their partnership “extremely beneficial” as they announced the split last year.
Turkish Airlines were the early favourites to assume title sponsorship of the Pro12 from next season, and are understood to have held discussions with the league’s organisers. However, it appears that the late charge from Guinness may have proved decisive ahead of Thursday’s announcement.
The Pro12 have refused to comment on whether or not a new sponsorship deal has been signed and sealed, only stating that all will be revealed in an official announcement later this week, almost certainly on Thursday.
Guinness would be the third title sponsor for the Pro12 in eight years, but early reactions suggest that many fans would be pleased with how the brewery would fit with the Pro12.
Would you be happy with Guinness as the new sponsor of the Pro12?
