Counties rugby TradeMe auction pulled

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Counties Manukau Rugby's hopes of finding a naming rights sponsor on TradeMe have been dealt a blow as the auction has been pulled.

TradeMe removed the listing, telling the union that the auction was for services as opposed to an item for sale.

However, Bevan Brown from Counties Manukau Rugby said media attention this morning had garnered several "viable sponsorship leads".

"From a Counites Manukau rugby perspective we've tried to be innovative and that's worked, we were up against it and now we're better off then we were this morning."

The auction idea was suggested by an advertising agency as the Steelers struggle to find a jersey sponsor for the upcoming season which kicks off at the end of July.

The team's sponsorship rights had been listed with a starting price of $100,000.

Benefits included front-of-jersey branding, live television exposure, media coverage, corporate hospitality for up to 25 people, stadium signage, game-day ticketing and player promotion time.

Anyone with sponsorhsip offers should ccontact the Counties Manukau Rugby Union phone 09 237 0033 or e-mail Stacey.addenbrook@steelers.co.nz