Celtic League set to lose Magners as sponsor

Published on Monday 18 April 2011 16:56

MAGNERS are poised to end their sponsorship of the Celtic League at the end of this season, and Italian car giant Fiat is believed to be one of the front-runners to take over.

The league, which was expanded this season to allow Italian pair Aironi and Benetton Treviso to join, has been sponsored by Magners for five years, but the cider company is ready to call time on its successful involvement.

"Given the brand direction of Magners, the group wants to look at other opportunities and is doing so," a spokesman for parent group C&C said.

The league, which features both Scottish professional outfits Edinburgh and Glasgow as well as sides from Ireland, Wales and the two from Italy, was without a sponsor for five years between 2001 and 2006, but has grown in popularity in recent years under the Magners banner thanks to some alterations to its format.

A play-off system, similar to that used by the English Premiership, was introduced last season to determine the Celtic League champions, something that had previously been determined solely by league performance.

The Scottish, Welsh and Irish rugby unions now use the league as the sole determinant for European qualification, and the Italian union uses it as their determinant for Heineken Cup qualification.

Meanwhile, Scotland international lock Scott Murray has signed a one-year extension to his contract with Castres Olympique. The 35-year-old joined the club from financially-troubled Montauban at the start of this season and has featured regularly in the side which is on target for a place in the French Championship semi finals.

Murray, who has earned 87 international caps, will be joined at Castres next season by fellow Scotland international cap Max Evans, who is leaving Glasgow Warriors.