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Cape Town - The Springboks will tackle Ireland in their three-Test series in June without a main sponsor.
According to Netwerk24, the negative image portrayed by SA Rugby over the last year is seemingly the reason why there has been a struggle to secure a main sponsor for the Springboks.
It is believed that Absa opted out of renewing its contract due to the lack of transformation in the national team.
There were recent rumours that Bidvest would replace Absa as main sponsors, but nothing has been concluded.
There also appears to have been infighting within SARU in recent times, with Rassie Erasmus resigning from his general manager of high performance role to undertake the director of rugby position at Irish club, Munster.
SA Rugby has also copped heavy criticism from minister of sport Fikile Mbalula for its apparent lack of transformation, with Mbalula barring the organisation form bidding to host major international events.
The Springbok team will continue to play in the Test jersey launched last year, which was developed following months of hard work by scientists, in collaboration with SA Rugby, at the ASICS Institute of Sport Science in Kobe, Japan.
The Boks will take on Ireland in their alternative green and white strip before playing Argentina in the iconic green and gold in the opening match of the Rugby Championship in Nelspruit in August.
The team's new supporters’ jersey was jointly launched by SA Rugby and ASICS, official apparel partner of the Springboks, on Thursday.
There was no sign on the jersey of a main sponsor to replace Absa.
