Western Force have received a $1.5 million lifeline in a sponsorship deal with the State Government that sees the Road Safety Commission their naming rights partner for the 2017 Super Rugby season.

The front-of-jumper sponsorship is the biggest 12-month deal signed by an Australian Super Rugby franchise and has a three-year roll over renewal option.

Speculation has surrounded the Force’s future since an independent review made recommendations including reducing the number of teams.

However, it has emerged that the current 18-team format is likely to remain in place until the end of the 2020 broadcast deal.

The club was effectively taken over by the Australian Rugby Union last year in a move that lifted a multi-million dollar debt from the franchise’s shoulders and saved them from falling into a bigger financial hole. Players and staff became employees of the ARU.

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Soon after they launched the “Save The Force” campaign selling shares that are expected to raise $5 million and turn the franchise into Australia’s biggest fan-owned club.

Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said the deal put the club on a strong footing.

“It’s put us in a good place that’s for sure,” Sinderberry said.

“This goes a long way to supporting our revenue base that we need to run rugby in this state.

“This fills a hole in terms of our sponsorship targets.

“From the ARU perspective all those are good messages in terms of what’s happening to rugby in the state.

“If we take care of ourselves and make sure we are performing and keep growing the game in Western Australia then we will be in a good place

“The partnership with the Road Safety Commission is significant and goes some way to under-pinning the revenues of the Western Force for the future, and just as importantly allows us to play a role in the wider community to help address the problems we collectively face with cars, young people and road safety.”

Under the deal players and coaching staff must carry out 1200 hours community work as road safety ambassadors.

Western Force and Wallabies winger Dane Haylett-Petty said: “It’s massive for us, it secures our future and along with that it allows us to drive the message of road safety.”