Optimum Nutrition partners with Irish Rugby to support elite performance

Optimum Nutrition has formalised a major partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union, becoming the Official Performance Nutrition Partner of Irish Rugby. The deal covers all national squads, including men’s and women’s teams, providing access to Optimum Nutrition’s Elite Series range to support training and recovery.

The collaboration is fronted by Optimum Nutrition ambassadors, including rugby stars Hugo Keenan and Erin King, amplifying the brand’s visibility across professional teams and public engagement campaigns. It also extends into fan experiences, with opportunities to win tickets for upcoming Quilter Nations Series matches in Dublin.

Beyond athlete support, the initiative promotes nutrition awareness among the wider public, highlighting the link between diet, performance, and overall health. Optimum Nutrition aims to demonstrate the value of performance nutrition not only for elite players but also for everyday fitness and wellbeing.

Hugh McGuire, CEO of Glanbia, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership, noting its alignment with two decades of supporting rugby in Ireland. The collaboration integrates marketing, ambassador activity, and product placement, reinforcing the brand’s market leadership in sports nutrition.

Billy Murphy, Chair of the IRFU Commercial & Marketing Committee, welcomed the partnership, citing its benefits for player performance, recovery, and community education on nutrition principles. The agreement strengthens IRFU’s commercial portfolio while enhancing athlete welfare and fan engagement.

The deal underscores the commercial potential of sports nutrition partnerships in high-profile national teams, blending performance support with brand exposure and consumer interaction.

Discover more about Optimum Nutrition’s partnership with Irish Rugby and its implications for sports sponsorship in the full story.