The tournament will now be known as the RaboDirect PRO 12 for the next four seasons.
Magners had sponsored the competition since 2006 in a deal reportedly worth £500,000 per year, however financial details of the new agreement have not been disclosed and it is unclear whether the agreement will open up new funding for the clubs.
League chief John Feehan said: ‘Our competition has experienced a huge growth over the last few years and it was time to move it to the next level. Our new brand, the Pro12, encapsulates the structure, growth and energy of our competition’.
‘The Rabobank Group is active and engaged sponsors of a number of sporting properties worldwide and we look forward to working with them’.
The Dutch bank also support a leading cycling team, Rabobank ProTeam, and is also a commercial partner of cycling's Tour of Italy and Tour of California.
RaboDirect has around 75,000 customers in Ireland and also operates in Belgium, Australia and New Zealand as well as the Netherlands.
Published: 9/06/2011
Source: http://www.sportindustry.biz/news/view/9910/celtic-league-unveils-rabobank-deal
