The SRU are on the point of agreeing a new long-term deal with sponsors Tennents, covering the entire domestic game.

In order to maximise their investment, the company have been eager to extend their involvement to the newly formed super teams as well as the club game, despite the fact that they will be unable to promote themselves through the super teams when they are involved in European competition if that continues to be backed by rival brewers Heineken.

A Murrayfield source said: '' We are 99.9% there, and when the deal is finalised Tennents will be involved at all levels of the domestic game.''