Munster in line for top award

MUNSTER Rugby are in line to win a major international sports event management award for their staging of the Munster and All Blacks clash at Thomond Park in November of last year - Munster Rugby has been shortlisted in the Event Marketing category of the SportBusiness Sports Event Management Awards which will be presented at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on November 10.
The shortlist also includes the organisers of the Aviva London Grand Prix and the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket.
As only three events have been shortlisted in this category Munster Rugby await confirmation of whether they have won the gold, silver or bronze award. Celebrating best practice and achievement, the SportsBusiness Sports Event Management awards recognise excellence in the global sports event management industry.
Last year’s awards were dominated by the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games with other nominees this year including the Indian Premier League, the WTA Tour Championships, ICC World Twenty20, The Wimbledon Championships and the FIFA Confederations Cup.
Munster Rugby CEO, Garrett Fitzgerald said the award was a huge acknowledgement of the efforts and hard work of everyone involved: “To be recognised with an international sports event management award is a testimony of how Munster Rugby strives for excellence off the field as well as on.
“It was a wonderful occasion with thanks due to all our sponsors. It was a real honour for us to host the All Blacks in Thomond Park who are such an iconic brand in world rugby.”
Paul Dalton, Commercial Manager of the New Zealand Rugby Union said that the match against Munster had been ‘an incredible experience for the All Blacks’.
“The 30th anniversary of a very important piece of rugby history with many of those original players present, the new stadium opening, the huge build-up over the week, the then Heineken Cup champions against the number one team in the world, the intense pressure on both teams and the amazing crowd,” Paul Dalton said.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience and the rugby lived up to it!”
Meanwhile Tony McGahan’s stuttering Munster side will be hoping to avoid a Halloween horror when they host Ulster in a crunch Magners League tie at Thomond Park this Saturday (5pm). Munster will be hoping to bounce back from their hugely disappointing defeat at the hands of Edinburgh on Friday last when they face table toppers Ulster this weekend.
Sixth-placed Munster currently trail in-form Ulster by five points in the Magners League after six series of games. In the corresponding fixture last season Ulster recorded a runaway 37-11 victory at Thomond Park.
And earlier last season it was Ulster who ended Munster’s five-game winning start in the Magners League.
Following Saturday’s game, the Magners League will take a five-week break as the autumn internationals take centre stage. Munster’s will resume their League programme away to the Ospreys on Saturday, December 5.

Colm Kinsella