Press release

ESBI bringing England and France to play in Athlone

19th January 2007: ESB International is again joining with the Irish Rugby Football Union to bring Under-20 International Rugby to Buccaneers RFC.

Following the success of the Athlone club's hosting, in association with ESB International, of Ireland's home U-21 matches last season, the IRFU again selected Dubarry Park as the venue for this season's U-20 Championship fixtures against France and England.

The first of these ESBI games sees the Ireland U-20 team take on France (who won last year's U-21 World Championship) under the Dubarry Park floodlights on Friday, February 9th.

Another of the world youth super powers, England (ranked fourth), are the visitors on Friday, February 23rd. Both matches kick off at 7.30 p.m.

Commenting on this sponsorship, ESB Chairman Tadgh O'Donoghue stated: "I am delighted to see International Rugby played in Athlone. These two games, hosted by Buccaneers RFC, promise topclass sport and will provide a key indicator of the enhanced state of the code in Ireland and the other countries playing ESBI U-20 rugby".

Mr. O'Donoghue congratulated Buccaneers RFC on again bringing International Rugby to the midlands.

Buccaneers President, Gerry Mc Inerney, thanked ESB International for their continued valued support, and Irish Team manager, Phil Orr, expressed his delight to be playing the U-20 Championship at such a great venue as Dubarry Park.

One of the key factors in ESBI'S decision to associate the company with Under-20 Rugby is the all-island footprint of the game.

The Irish energy market is moving to an all island market operation and ESBI is already operating on both sides of the border. Rugby Union has operated on an all island basis for numerous years now.

Ends

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