In 2015, we don’t often get the chance to doff our caps but Heineken are getting a grand ol’ cap doff for this effort.
The chancers managed to pull off a pretty impressive pranks when they tricked some Irish rugby fans into believing that they had accidentally leaked the phone number of former Leicester flanker Neil Back, famed for costing Munster the 2002 Heineken Cup when he batted the ball out of Peter Stringer’s hands during the put-in to a Munster scrum in the final.
Heineken’s plan worked a treat when a number of grudge-holding rugby fans texted some “friendly” abuse to the “leaked” phone number.
Pretending to be Back’s PA, Heineken then rang some of the unwitting texters back to let them know they had been requested to attend Leinster’s home game with Bath that weekend.
Eamonn Dromgoole (25), Phillip McGauran (26) and Cormac Murphy (28) all showed up and it’s pretty uncomfortable watching them squirm as they are forced into a press conference where they are called out by Back, who somehow maintains a straight face throughout it all.
Well played everyone. Now about that 2002 final…
The stunt was created by Heineken to unveil #RunWithIt, a campaign that calls on fans to embrace the unpredictability of European rugby to be in with a chance of winning some amazing, money-can’t-buy prizes.
To be in with a chance to win a VIP trip to this season’s Twickenham finale, simply visit www.facebook.com/heineken and tag your friend who would be most likely to #RunWithIt if they ended up in a tricky spot.
