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SUPER Rugby's Australian leg will begin on Friday without a major sponsor - a result new ARU boss Bill Pulver described as "disappointing".
The competition has been unable to find a replacement for last year's sponsor, foreign exchange broker FxPro, in time for the opening game between the Rebels and Western Force in Melbourne.
“To be honest, it is something we are trying to address but I can’t sugarcoat it, it’s a disappointing result,” Pulver said at today's Super Rugby season launch in Melbourne.
“It’s going to be one of my immediate priorities.”
It leaves Super Rugby as the only major domestic competition in Australia without a major sponsor.
Meanwhile, Pulver said he would like to see an expected profit of up to $30 million from this British and Irish Lions tour invested into a new competition that would sit below Super Rugby and above club rugby.
“The elements of growth for rugby have to include a third-tier, and one I believe that should support Super Rugby. When you have more competitive Super franchises then the Wallabies take care of themselves.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/ru...-1226577180808