London Irish say they are in "ongoing dialogue" with their sponsors about the signing of Paddy Jackson.

The club released a statement following a report that its main sponsor, Guinness, have sought a meeting to discuss "serious concerns" about the former Ulster and Ireland out-half joining the Premiership team.

Jackson's IRFU contract was cancelled in the aftermath of the player being found not guilty in a high-profile rape trial in 2018.

Jackson subsequently moved to France to play with Perpignan in the Top14.

In May London Irish, who won the second tier Championship in England, announced they had signed the 27-year-old.

"Players of the calibre of Paddy Jackson do not become available very often and both myself and Les [Kiss] are looking forward to working with him in the future," Director of Rugby Declan Kidney, who gave Jackson his Ireland debut in 2013, said at the time.

In a statement released to the Irish Daily Mail, Diageo, the parent company of Guinness, said: "We are meeting the club this week to discuss our serious concerns regarding their decision, which is not consistent with our values."

Last week the Cash Converters firm pulled their sponsorship from London Irish saying "as a company we are committed to the highest possible standards when it comes to our investments in any sponsorships".

The club say that the decision was unrelated to the signing of Jackson.

In a statement London Irish said: "London Irish's management were aware that Diageo would be releasing a statement regarding the meeting scheduled for this week.

"There has been ongoing dialogue with all of our sponsors regarding the Paddy Jackson signing, as part of our continued commitment to work closely with all of our partners."

Jackson is one of a number of high profile signings by the club for the 2019/20 season.

Ireland international Sean O'Brien, New Zealand wing Waisake Naholo and Australian prop Sekope Kepu are set to play with the Exiles.

The review undertaken by Ulster and the IRFU focused on a series of sexually explicit WhatsApp conversations involving Jackson and his then team-mate Stuart Olding and their friends about the sexual encounter at the centre of the trial.

The messages, which referred to women in derogatory terms, were presented as evidence during the marathon nine-week trial at Belfast Crown Court.