Setanta Sports Renews Partnership With USA Rugby

Setanta Sports Renews Partnership With USA Rugby

Continues with its commitment to provide die hard fans with best in class international rugby programming

NEW YORK and BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Setanta Sports Inc and USA Rugby, the federation governing all rugby in the United States, are pleased to announce the renewal of their official partnership. Under the terms of the agreement Setanta will continue as a sponsor of the USA Eagles men's national team with both parties contributing to a range of activities and initiatives in support of the rapid growth of rugby across the country. In 2008 Setanta will broadcast all home appearances by the US Eagles men's national 15- and 7-a-side teams.

Setanta will serve as the broadcaster of the 2008 Churchill Cup, which will be played in USA & Canada between June 7th & 21st, and features national teams of USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland and Argentina. The company will also be the broadcaster and sponsor of the Setanta Challenge series to be played in August, featuring the US Eagles and two of Europe's top professional teams.

"After the Eagle's highly competitive play at the 07 Rugby World Cup and with the continued increase in participation in the sport here, there really wasn't a question as to whether we would renew our partnership with USA Rugby," said Roger Hall, CEO Setanta North America. "We are extremely pleased to extend our relationship with USA Rugby, and ultimately hope to work with them right through the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand."

"I am delighted that Setanta has chosen to extend their partnership with USA Rugby until 2009. The past 12 months have seen this partnership develop, in 2008 we can take even more steps forward together and inspire even more Americans to fall in love with rugby," Nigel Melville, CEO of USA Rugby said. "We are eager to extend the momentum already achieved within the sporting community and are excited to provide die hard fans and newcomers alike with even more action packed events in the near future."

In the more immediate future Setanta also announced that they will be the exclusive live US broadcaster of the forthcoming San Diego leg of the IRB World 7s series. The 7s tournament, which is anticipating a record attendance, will take place in Petco Park, San Diego on the 9th and 10th of February. It will feature the top 16 national teams and the world's best seven a side rugby players. Setanta will broadcast three hours of Saturday's live competition and then the entire Sunday starting at 1pm Eastern through 9pm. Saturday's coverage will include the highly anticipated clash between the USA & Mexico.

Throughout the year Setanta provides U.S. sports fans with all the top flight rugby from around the world. The channel's comprehensive rugby stable includes the RBS Six Nations, Super 14, Guinness English Premiership, Magners League, as well as the Heineken European Cup, Tri Nations rugby, Currie Cup, Air New Zealand Cup plus lots more.

About Setanta Sports North America (www.setanta.com)

Setanta Sports North America operates the only dedicated International sports and rugby channel in North America. In 2006, the 24-hour, digital pay TV network aired more than 1,000 live events, including European and International soccer, world-class rugby and other sports programming designed to meet the growing demands of international sports fans living in North America. Setanta Sports North America is owned by Dublin-based Setanta Sports worldwide, a leading, international pay television broadcaster and the number two sports broadcaster in the United Kingdom, providing top sports leagues and events to more than 100 million digital television homes globally and to commercial venues in six countries. In North America, Setanta Sports is currently available to subscribers via DIRECTV, Dish Network, GlobeCast World, and ITVN as well in commercial settings such as sports bars and pubs nationwide.

About USA Rugby (www.usarugby.org)

USA RUGBY, founded in 1975, is the national governing body for rugby and is a member of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). The organization is responsible for the development of boys, girls, high school, collegiate and club athletic programs, and ultimately, the nine national teams representing the United States in international competition.

Further information about the 2008 USA Sevens tournament in San Diego on 9th & 10th February can be found at www.usasevens.com.

Source: Setanta Sports

CONTACT: Jessy Adams of FD, +1-212-850-5684, Jessy.Adams@FD.com, for
Setanta

Web site:

http://www.setanta.com/
http://www.usarugby.org/
http://www.usasevens.com/

-------
Profile: intent