Paddy Jackson - "not consistent with values"

[MotherForkinShirtBalls]

Jackson signing prompts ‘serious concerns’ from club sponsor Diageo www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/paddy-jackson-signing-prompts-serious-concerns-from-club-sponsor-diageo-1.3920656

What a shame.

He’ll be back in an Ulster/Ireland shirt within an obscene timeframe

I think the Diageo decision has made this less likely. Up until then I would have said the same. Diageo may be a minor sponsor of London Irish but their decision will have been noted by other clubs and regionally/nationally. It is getting coverage on the radio here (Ireland) and while the rugby heads "just don't understand" the Diageo decision (quote) others seem to have to difficulty with getting to grips with what it means.

*no difficulty (oh for a correction option!)

is it because the players are centrally contracted rather than directly by the Crusaders?

I don’t think so. I know that at least one member of the Crusaders board weren’t happy that the latest violent man was signed, but the signings are made by each club. NZR allow for I think it’s two players per club that aren’t centrally contracted, that instead play for one of the other, smaller Pacific island countries. Sevu Reece isn’t one of those players though, he was captured when he was younger as he played for the U20’s. He was leaving NZ so had no contract with us at the time of the assault. He actually got rewarded with the Crusaders contract after Connacht dropped him, despite them being instrumental in him avoiding conviction. I suspect he’ll soon make the All Blacks, which means a man will be playing for them who is less than a year away from brutally assaulting his partner in public. To put it into context regarding sponsors, Adidas dropped Folau for a bible verse, but would never drop the All Blacks & NZR despite several players who have committed violent assaults on women playing for them.

3timeslucky is Diageo or Guinness also a sponsor for the Irish rugby team?

Guinness is.

3timeslucky thankyou, I thought so. I agree with you then, I think it makes it look far less likely he’ll make it back to Ulster or the Irish team.

And I see they also signed a 6 year deal at the end of 2018 to be lead sponsor for the Six Nations (replacing NatWest and RBS from 2019).

Oh that’s even more interesting then.... I am very impressed with them on this.

Thanks Jessica I wasn't sure how the relationship between super rugby and the national squads work. NZR and ARU both have problems with violence and misogyny. You'd think NZR would take it more seriously given that it's the national sport.

I agree that Diageo's statement of intent by dropping LI sponsorship will mean that PJ will find it difficult to get back into the Irish squad, or get an Irish contract, in the future. They are much bigger sponsors in Ireland and, as 3timeslucky points out, the current major sponsor for the 6N.

So a NZ beer company sponsor The Crusaders. I’ve written to them through the email featured here, citing the decision by Diageo as my motivation etc and ask them to follow their lead. If anyone wants to do the same:

www.monteiths.co.nz/mobile/contact-us

You'd think NZR would take it more seriously given that it's the national sport.

I spoke to the head of communications at NZ rugby recently about it, almost 2 hours and she didn’t disagree with one word I said. Sadly though, the problem is at the top and goes all the way through rugby. They really really do not care. I’m amazed any of the other players want him around their children. Really it’s just appalling violence is so normalised in NZ, like it doesn’t matter. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen, ‘ everyone makes mistakes’ ‘she forgave him why can’t you’ and ‘ we should embrace and help him’.

@finnmcool thanks for the info I’m going to contact Zurich.

Do Guinness sponsor the Irish rugby team? They sponsored the 6 nations this year?

Yes Jonette.

I've had the same reply.

How nice that the "send the standard reply" instruction was actually nice and helpful !

I got the same reply

I got the reply above too. I had emailed them a second time, before the response, to thank them for taking their stand. I usually strain something rolling my eyes at mega Corp Inc asking if their brand values match mine, but I'm pleasantly surprised that this time they do.

this is good if true - Paddy Whiskey

How can we contact Paddy’s whiskey?

Their FB page I guess? I'm not in FB so can't, I'm afraid.

That's fantastic news about paddy's whisky and hopefully Diageo pulling sponsorship of London Irish will move Ireland to not even contemplate (more than they potentially have) signing him back.
It's a mad world we live in when corporate companies listen to us more than the clubs that promote family friendly values..

Yeah I’m not on Facebook either.

I was looking at the Crusaders sponsorship page, made interesting reading. They are sponsored by TVNZ & Stuff ( major news media outlet ). Which I thought was bizarre, how could they report impartially on decisions like employing abusers?? So I wrote to the head of sport, he had no idea! But gave me the editors email :) I’ve written to the beer company too, asked them if they would be following the lead from Diageo. I’ve also tried contacting Adidas but they cleverly have no proper email contact unless it’s about an order.