John McWeeney, Paddy Power, Richie Whyte and Gordon d’Arcy

At the launch of the Paddy Power sponsorship of the Bingham Cup – the gay rugby world Cup in the Front Lounge on Tuesday evening were a number of high profile Leinster, ex- Leinster and Irish internationals and pundits including Gordon d’Arcy, Emmett Byrne, Liam Toland , John McWeeney, and Peter Coyle.

Paddy Power and Barry Murphy's 'Gerhardt'

MCing the event, Apres Match’s Barry Murphy as the German character ‘Gerhardt’ had the capacity crowd in stitches as he mercilessly ribbed the speeches from Paddy Power and Tournament Director Richie Whyte, who was later praised by Dorothy Collins of the IRFU Leinster Branch for securing the biggest international amateur rugby event in the world next year for Dublin.

Barry Joyce (Warriors Chairman) and Ciaran O'Sullivan (Warriors Captain)

Also present in great numbers were members of the host club, The Emerald Warriors including the reigning Mr Gay Ireland, Barry Meegan.

The Following Media information was issued for the occasion:

Paddy Power Step up to The Plate for The Gay Rugby World Cup

Paddy Power bookmakers has stepped up to the plate to become title sponsor of The Bingham Cup, Dublin 2008. The bid to host the cup was won last year by Dublin team, The Emerald Warriors against stiff competition from Paris and Cup Holders, Sydney.

Ciaran O'Sullivan, Paddy Power, Richie Whyte, Esteban Araujo Fervenza, Robbie Fields

At an event in The Front Lounge in Dublin hosted by Paddy Power, and MC’d by Barry Murphy of ‘Apres Match’ Paddy Power expressed his delight with the partnership: “It’s a real honour to associate ourselves with what will be the biggest sports event to be held in Ireland next year. It is also the biggest ever commercial sponsorship of an Irish gay-focussed event and we are really looking forward to working with the lads to ensure that the 2008 Bingham will be biggest and most successful yet”

Commenting on the sponsorship, Richie Whyte, Tournament Director said: “Paddy Power have an innovative and risk taking approach to the market. We are delighted that they see the Bingham Cup as a good fit for them both in terms of its sporting potential and public profile. The Bingham Cup Dublin will be both the largest amateur XVs rugby tournament held in the country in 15 years and the biggest international gay-oriented event ever held in Ireland. Having an international brand such as such as Paddy Power throwing their weight behind it represents a huge development for the tournament particularly in terms of developing mainstream interest. We expect our partnership to enhance an already great tournament and help to make it the biggest and best tournament yet.”

The Bingham Cup is the second largest biennial amateur 15s rugby tournament in the world. The 2006 cup which took place in New York was the biggest yet. Thirty teams drawn from clubs around the world competed in the three day tournament. The Dublin tournament is expected to exceed these figures with over 600 participants already registered for the competition.

Chief Executive of The Irish Rugby Football Union, Philip Browne said: "The IRFU are delighted to be associated with the Emerald Warriors in hosting the Bingham Cup, which is fast becoming one of the largest international amateur 15-a-side rugby tournaments in the world. The Tournament Director and Organising Committee are to be congratulated on bringing this tournament to Ireland and also on securing an international brand, Paddy Power, as the title sponsor for the tournament. Given the professional manner in which they have approached the Tournament to date, the event is sure to be a big success."