Global logistics company TNT Express has extended its decade-long partnership with the Australian Rugby Union for another three years until the end of 2016.
The deal comes alongside an ARU commitment to increasing the number of qualified match officials in Australia by 20 per cent over the next five years, an initiative TNT will support.
Under the terms of the deal, TNT will sponsor Super Rugby referees in Australia and work with the ARU to develop its Referee Mentoring Programme and Referee Recognition Programme.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said: “Match officials are essential to our game and ensure it is played according to our values, particularly respect. We appreciate having a partner like TNT Express that supports and invests in referees from the grassroots through to the elite level.”