The value of the sponsorship deal was not revealed, but the Australian Financial Review reported it will cost the airline about four million dollars (2.9 million US) per year.

Acting ARU chief executive Matt Carroll said only that the arrangement would bring the rugby union's total sponsorship revenue to an "all-time high".

Qantas replaced mobile phone operator Vodafone, which had been the Wallabies' naming sponsor for seven years. The news sponsorship deal was unveiled at the Qantas Jet Base in Sydney in the presence of Wallaby captain George Gregan and nine other players. "Qantas and the Wallabies are a very natural partnership," Carroll said.

"Qantas is an iconic Australian company and the Wallabies have a very special place in the eyes of the Australian public as one of our great national teams," he said.

"With this new level of support from Qantas, the ARU can continue the extraordinary growth that the game is enjoying in Australia right now and very importantly keep the Wallabies at the forefront of international rugby," he said.

The sponsorship deal was announced a day after Sydney lawyer Gary Flowers was named ARU chief executive, replacing John O'Neill who had transformed the financially struggling Australian union into a multi-million-dollar business.

AFP - 2004.