Latest news with #SimonZebo
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Black Emerald: Bringing Irish Whiskey to a new generation
Simon Zebo always had an unerring eye for a spectacular score. Back in his high-flying rugby career with Munster and Ireland, his split-second timing and quicksilver speed ensured his iconic status as a legend of the game. Having finally hung up his boots in 2024, the ever-enthusiastic Simon has quickly found a new field of dreams for his talents as the face of Black Emerald Whiskey on its journey to conquer the world. Initially targeting the fastest-growing international Irish whiskey markets of Nigeria and South Africa, Black Emerald is bringing Simon back to many of the same territories he visited as a player. 'This is an amazing time for me to be involved with Black Emerald and going back to places like South Africa, where I have such great memories of my rugby days. It feels very right to be going full circle, and this time as part of the team behind such a tremendous Irish product. It's partly a trip down memory lane from my playing career, and also opening a new chapter in helping to bring a new story of Irish whiskey to the world.' The connection between Black Emerald and rugby will also be enhanced in 2025 with plans to launch in Australia during the upcoming Lions tour, as well as making its debut in Chicago this November when Ireland play the All Blacks at Soldier Field the stadium where history was made when the boys in green beat the Kiwis for the first time in 2016. As Simon looks to his new career horizon, the connection to his beloved rugby will never be far away especially with the addition of an old comrade in arms now added to the Black Emerald board. Simon's former Munster and Ireland rugby player, Denis Hurley, is now a member of the whiskey team, joining as Commercial Director. He brings extended experience in the spirits industry already, in particular with West Cork Distillery. 'To have somebody like Denis as part of Black Emerald is just magic. He is a guy I have so many great sporting memories with. We have played together going back to my Cork Con days. He was always fully committed in every game that he played with Munster and Ireland and will no doubt bring that same dedication to this enterprise. Denis has such an extensive knowledge of the industry into the bargain, it really adds to the enjoyment and buzz off being on this business journey we are together on.' Simon Zebo, Ernest Cantillon, and Finian Sedgwick, founders of Black Emerald are inviting investors to join them. Picture: Taylor Siggins O'Brien An opportunity to invest in future growth Black Emerald Irish Whiskey is currently raising funds through the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS) offering investors a unique opportunity to be a part of the future of Irish Whiskey and to benefit from 50% tax relief on their investment. 'It really is a great opportunity for investors, and Black Emerald has been developed over the past number of years with exactly that in mind. We have had great support already on the investment side, and this current investment round is a chance to be part of the EIIS scheme looks to be similarly well supported.' The coming months will see Black Emerald launch on the world stage with close connections to a number of major rugby games. 'The next six months will be huge for Black Emerald, and are a real incentive for EIIS investors to join us on this journey.' Irish whiskey has experienced extraordinary growth over the past two decades, transitioning to becoming one of the fastest-growing spirit categories globally. Between 2000 and 2023, the number of operational distilleries in Ireland increased tenfold from just four to over 40. Spirit production in Ireland is projected to grow significantly, with an expected increase of 35% by 2028. 'South Africa is the fifth biggest market for Irish whiskey, and Nigeria just went into the top ten last year. These countries are no longer fringe markets, they are now places whose consumers know what they want. Nigeria is the fastest growing market for Irish whiskey, bar none, and joins South Africa in showing tremendous opportunity for a product like ours.' Nigeria will be one of the most populous countries in the world by 2050, and with an emerging middle class. The stars have aligned for Black Emerald and rugby in 2025 Simon notes that Black Emerald is the result of careful planning and expertise at all points of its development particularly for the growing new generation of Irish whiskey drinkers. 'Black Emerald an exciting new Irish Whiskey for a modern generation and getting that message out there will be helped hugely in how well our launches go over the coming months. It is very much like the stars have aligned with our launch in Australia during the upcoming Lions tour - and will be my first time going there since I played on the last Lions tour to Australia.' Simon Zebo has always brought the full weight of his ambition and dedication to every enterprise. Picture: Dan Linehan A similar launch is planned for South Africa in September - another nation with strong rugby connections to Ireland. Capping off what promises to be a hugely successful 2025 will be the November launch in Chicago, coinciding with the Ireland v All Blacks game. 'That match will really attract all the eyes of the rugby world given the incredible memories of 2016 when we beat the All Blacks for the first time. The buzz around that game is already huge, and having the Black Emerald launch be part of all that excitement is a master stroke.' Simon Zebo has always brought the full weight of his ambition and dedication to every enterprise he's been involved with from Munster and Ireland on the sporting field, and now as a key part of the Black Emerald team. 'Being part of Black Emerald feels to me like moving from one hugely motivated rugby team to another dynamic business team that is just as dedicated to success. I'm really enjoying my role in Black Emerald and feel very much at home in this new phase of my career.' For more information visit Black Emerald.
Telegraph
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
The brutal ‘bottlers' snipe that sums up rivals' joy in Leinster's failings
It did not take long for the schadenfreude to emerge following Leinster's latest European exit. Simon Zebo, the former Munster and Ireland wing, poked fun at Leo Cullen's side following their 37-34 Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton Saints. Zebo, who works as a pundit for tournament host broadcaster Premier Sport, posted a video of himself watching the post-match scenes, with a song called Bottlers playing in the background. The Corkman, who won 35 caps for Ireland and retired at the end of last season, also posted a photo of a Leinster fan laughing with a pint of beer in his hand and carrying a shopping bag from an upmarket Dublin department store, a dig at their reputation to attract well-heeled supporters. It may just have been interprovincial banter, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for Leinster to sidestep the 'bottler' tag. @RossOCK great result for Leinster, but in fairness, Leinster fans were in relaxed mood and quietly confident before kick off — Alan Kealy (@alankealy) January 12, 2019 Cullen had seemingly assembled a side that could make a strong case to be regarded as the best there has ever been, strengthening the squad that lost their third successive final last season with the world-class talent of Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman, and the scrummaging menace of Rabah Slimani. And yet once again they have fallen short, and inevitably more serious scrutiny will follow about the Irish province that benefits from the financial consequences of having 11 of the 14 IRFU centrally-contracted players in their squad. They have stardust from overseas and tailor every season to their pursuit of a fifth European title, the last of which came in 2018. Cullen's coaching ticket also reflects their financial strength, headed up by the former Springboks' double World Cup-winning coach Jacques Nienaber, but having glided through the knockout stages with a 62-0 win over Harlequins, and a 52-0 win over Glasgow, the defeat by Northampton raises questions about whether the pressure of the occasion got to them. Cullen's decision to start Barrett, regarded by many as one of the most complete players in the world, on the bench also looks like an extremely costly blunder, given that the 57-times-capped All Black was brought in on a short-term contract specifically for these white-heat moments. 'I will look back on lots of different things over the course of the next few weeks,' said Cullen, the former Leinster, Leicester and Ireland lock. 'And, yes, when you don't win a game, particularly in a semi-final, everyone is going to second-guess everything. 'Jordie brought a huge impact, and that is what we wanted from him. Similar with Jack Conan, and a lot of other players that were on the bench. You look at us at the end of the game – we looked like a strong team, attacking the game. There's probably bits before where we weren't quite accurate enough. But I don't have regrets about that plan, specifically.' Asked if he was still the right man to lead Leinster to another Champions Cup win, and the right man to head up the organisation, Cullen remained defiant. 'I believe that I am, yes,' he added. 'I think we've worked hard to try to improve the group year on year and I think the group is very strong right now. 'As I said, that's not something that's just created last week, it's year on year and I think we've a stronger group now. 'We've lost three finals over the last three years, yeah, but I believe we've a stronger group now than we've had and that's the way I will continue to approach the day to day in terms of preparing for the short term, medium term, long term. So, yes. And I'm very committed to that as well. 'Because of the pressure and expectation, I don't think that is a complacency thing. It is more about there being a little bit of desperation. We want to be successful, and maybe there is a lack of composure there.' And so the wait goes on. Their last piece of silverware came with the United Rugby Championship back in 2021, and until Leinster win their fifth European title, Zebo and co are unlikely to relent on the 'bottlers' gags.
