Irish Rugby World Cup legends David Humphries, Donal Lenihan with Newstalk’s Ger Gilroy at the launch of Heineken’s Rugby World Cup Tour last November
Rugby Legends Donal Lenihan, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Marcus Horan, and MCs Ger Gilroy and Billy Keane will join the Rugby World Cup next week as it travels around Kerry, Waterford and Tipperary to mark Heineken’s partnership with this, the world’s most prestigious rugby tournament.
The Webb Ellis Cup returns to Ireland from 15th – 19th of March following the success of its first expedition around the island last November and will give more Irish rugby fans the opportunity to get up close and personal with the Webb Ellis Cup.
Rugby fans will relive past Rugby World Cup stories and have a chance to look forward to this year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand; have their picture taken with the Cup; see Rugby World Cup memorabilia and meet Ireland’s foremost Rugby legends over an ice cold Heineken.
Rugby World Cup kicks off in less than nine months in New Zealand. The prestigious Cup is named after William Webb Ellis, who according to popular myth invented the game of Rugby after picking up the ball in a game of football. The All-Blacks were the first ever champions of the Tournament in 1987 and the current World Champions are South Africa, who won Rugby World Cup twenty years later. The ’95 tournament is widely remembered for the addition of South Africa, following the end of the international sports boycott, who famously went on to win the Tournament.
The Rugby World Cup Tour presented by Heineken will stop off at Mulcahy’s in Clonmel on Tuesday 15th March; Mason’s in Waterford on Wednesday 16th of March and McSorley’s in Killarney on Saturday 19th of March.
The Legends:
Donal Lenihan
Donal was captain of Ireland in the inaugural Rugby World Cup, he holds 52 international caps and played in the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups. After retiring from rugby he took over as manager of Ireland.
Ciaran Fitzgerald
Ciaran captained Ireland to two Triple Crowns in 1982 and 1985; he won 25 caps for Ireland and captained the British and Irish Lions on their 1983 tour to New Zealand. He coached Ireland at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
Marcus Horan
Munster and Irish loose-head-prop, Horan played in the 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He came to prominence when he replaced Peter Clohessy.
Ger Gilroy
Ger is a broadcaster on national station Newstalk anchoring the sports shows; Sports Saturday/Sunday.
Billy Keane
Billy Keane is a sports columnist with the Irish independent with a particular interest in rugby.
Aisling O’Brien, Heineken Sponsorships Brand Manager said, “Heineken is an Official Partner of the Rugby World Cup 2011 and this is an incredible opportunity to bring a slice of the Tournament to Ireland again and seed the excitement in the build up to the big event in September.
We’ve some of Ireland’s greatest rugby legends on board for our Rugby World Cup Tour of Munster ahead of the big tournament in September. These men have been in the epicenter of the action in previous Rugby World Cup’s and are sure to have many stories to share and provide an insight of what goes on during the ultimate worldwide rugby tournament.What better combination – legendary players, the world’s most prized sporting Cup– and Ireland’s number one lager?”
No registration for tickets is necessary for the event, however entry to the venues will be on a first come, first served basis so get there early to ensure entry!
Visit www.heineken.ie/rugbyworldcup for further details of the Tour.
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