Fiji's bid for funding has been harmed by their poor recent performances which included a drubbing at the hands of the All Blacks © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

News: No room for Nagusa in Fiji squad

Match Pack: All Blacks pass Fijian exam

News: Warriors sign Fijian Fatiaki

Tournaments/Tours: IRB Rugby World Cup

Teams: Fiji

Sites: Other countries

Fiji's rugby officials have revealed that the national side does not have a major sponsor ahead of the forthcoming World Cup.

The Fijian Rugby Union (FRU) is currently relying on support from the government and private funding from supporters of the team to fund the side. And with the World Cup just over a month away, the FRU's marketing manager has revealed that their recent poor performance - in both the Pacific Nations Cup and their defeat to the All Blacks - has harmed their ability to generate interest financially.

"The timing is now critical for whoever is going to come on board because we are just round the corner and one of the difficulties we are facing with sponsorship is the mixed results the team has been getting," Tevita Waqairawai said.

The Fiji government has so far released Fiji$2.6m (£910k) of a planned Fiji$3m (£1.05 million) grant which will fund their World Cup preparation. The remaining allowance will be released in due course. And Fiji have also received funding from the IRB - who have contributed Fiji$300k (£105k).

The government funding the FRU receive, according to FRU CEO Pio Bosco Tokoisuva, "is not given to us directly but is made available if we produce evidence for payment. This is by far the biggest funding we've had from a source made available to us."

Fiji open their World Cup campaign against Namibia on September 10.