ACT Brumbies and Super Rugby rivals look to avoid major sponsor shortfall

The Brumbies are hopeful of securing a new deal but face the prospect of opening their Super Rugby Pacific season on February 20 without a major sponsor on the front of their jersey. Talks to secure major sponsorship deals have become vastly more difficult due to the financial pinch felt by businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Brumbies, Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs have played trial games and filmed content for broadcasters without a sponsor emblazoned across the front of their jersey.

Clubs often hunt for deals worth upwards of $800,000 for their front of jersey sponsor, leaving a gaping hole for rugby clubs already walking a financial tightrope.

Marinos hopes landing Harvey Norman as Super Rugby Pacific's naming rights partner can offset the impact to a degree.

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"We've been working as hard as we can," Marinos said.

"Obviously the significance of us landing Harvey Norman was pretty important because that funding then does make its way through to all of the clubs as well in terms of their participation fees.

"We have been working with all of the clubs around a centralised commercial program. It's a work in progress at this point in time.

"As far as it goes with where each of the individual clubs are sitting, we're going to have to address and understand what those shortfalls, if any, are as a consequence of not being able to land a front of jersey partner."

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