It has been reported that international drinks giant Diageo has expressed “serious concern” over Irish rugby player Paddy Jackson signing for a club that it sponsors.
Jackson recently signed for London Irish after a spell in France after his contract with the IRFU was cancelled following his legal battles.
Serious Concern
According to the Irish Times, the Guinness maker said it would be meeting with the club to discuss the signing, “which is not consistent with our values”.
The news follows a recent and similar move by Cash Converters, another sponsor of the English rugby club.
The online shopping site pulled its sponsorship with the club following Jackson signing.
It replied to a BBC story breaking the news on Twitter, ‘As a company, we are committed to the highest possible standards when it comes to our investments in any sponsorships and collaborations’.
‘As a result of a detailed and thorough review of our support for London Irish, we have decided to discontinue our association with the club.’
However, according to the Belfast Telegraph, London Irish claim that Cash Converter’s decision to end its sponsorship with the club was a decision made at the end of the season, before Jackson signed.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
