Guinness have ended a 30-year partnership with London Irish after the newly-promoted Premiership club signed Irish fly-half Paddy Jackson, who was acquitted of rape last year.
The beer brand, synonymous with Irish rugby have been plough millions of sponsorship money into the club since they were amateur and their decision to cut ties comes as a blow.
They are the second sponsor to pull the plug on Irish after they signed the Ulsterman, with Cash Converters ending their association with the club last month.
The club say Cash Converters cut ties before Jackson's signing was confirmed, however Guinness renewed their partnership in 2016 and labelled the relationship between the two parties 'special' at the time.
But Diageo, the owner of Guinness, have now decided to withdraw their support for the club.
“Their recent decision is not consistent with our values and so we have ended our sponsorship,” a spokesman for Diageo said.
Jackson was cleared of rape last year, however he was sacked by the IRFU, along with Stuart Olding, following an investigation into misogynistic messages exchanged on WhatsApp.
The fly-half signs from French club Perpignan and was greeted with fury by some fans.
And the loss of a second sponsor comes as a significant blow to the Exiles, who have ambitious plans to retain their new-found Premiership status next season.
"The club has always respected the right for everyone to have an opinion, and their right to express that opinion," read a London Irish statement.
"It is regretful that this relationship has ended in the manner that it has."
