More than 150 business people, including some of the capital’s leading movers and shakers, came together at a prestigious function at London’s illustrious Institute of Directors building on Pall Mall
Fresh from their heroics in a Lions jersey this summer, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Justin Tipuric and Richard Hibbard were the special guests at the IoD Celtic Dinner, the traditional curtain raiser to the IoD Annual Convention, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall this year.
The landmark venue, created by the world-renowned John Nash in the 1820s and a centre of London business for almost two centuries, was the perfect venue for the event, oozing history and character in every corner.
Sky Sports presenter James Gemmell, host of the Rugby Club, was compere for the evening, leading an amusing and informative Q&A session with the players that provided a fascinating insight into life as an elite rugby player in the 21st century which kept the audience enthralled to the very end.
Ospreys Chief Executive, Andrew Hore, commented:
“The IoD’s annual Celtic Dinner is a key date in their annual calendar so for the Ospreys to be invited to share in such a prestigious event is a wonderful honour for our organisation.
“Everybody present were hanging on every word from the boys, and there were plenty of autographs and pictures collected by influential members of the business community keen to get to know our players better. It was a wonderful evening for all concerned.”
Having been invited to co-host the Celtic Dinner with IoD Wales, the event proved to be the perfect opportunity to launch the London-Ospreys Business Network, a new business networking group for both London and Wales-based business people who are interested in connecting and sharing their association or affiliation to the Ospreys region with likeminded individuals.
The aim of the network is to provide a platform for like-minded individuals who have Ospreys connections to meet, socialise and share business opportunities, packaged around the setting of top-flight European rugby.
For London-based business communities, the network will provide a tangible link back to Wales and the Ospreys region while the attraction for Wales-based businesspeople is that it provides an opportunity for introductions and engagement within the London business community, using the shared interest and involvement with the Ospreys as a vehicle to connect.
Andrew Hore added:
“It was overwhelming to see the wealth of good feeling towards the Ospreys from those present at the Institute of Directors, from both expats with a long connection to our region and to Wales, or simply business men and women with an interest in rugby.
“The Celtic Dinner provided a wonderful opportunity to network and talk rugby in unbelievable surroundings, and as such, it was a huge success for all parties.
“As one of the most influential business groups in the UK, to have the IoD seal of approval means a lot to Ospreys Rugby, and we intend using this event as a springboard to grow the new London Ospreys Business Network and to strengthen bonds with the business community in the capital.”
The region’s existing commercial partners, OSTC Foreign Exchange and FIOL Prosecco, supported the event along with Vestra Wealth Management.
Pictured from top to bottom are the Ospreys Lions with OSTC Foreign Exchange, Vestra Wealth Management, FIOL Prosecco, and Robert Lloyd-Griffiths from IoD Wales.
