Sydney (AFP)

Australian airline Qantas announced on Wednesday that it would stop sponsoring the Wallabies team, ending a thirty-year partnership.

Qantas explained that it is now difficult to justify funding sponsorship deals as it prepares to cut 2,500 more jobs after a huge annual loss caused by the traffic collapse due to the coronavirus.

"As we grapple with the crisis and its aftermath, the cost of our partnerships must be zero," company director of customer service Stephanie Tully said in a statement.

Qantas said it prefers to offer "in-kind" support over the next twelve months, including flights for the national cricket and football team, as well as for Australian Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the Tokyo Games. in 2021.

The financial sponsorship of the national rugby team was born in 1990 before support was extended to the Wallabies, in particular on the occasion of five World Cups, two of which they won.

"The collaboration between Qantas and Rugby Australia as well as with the Wallabies has been very long, we have stayed together in difficult times," said Tully.

"Unfortunately, this pandemic has brought it to an end. Like all Australians, we will continue to cheer them on from the sidelines," she added.

Australian Rugby Federation Acting Managing Director Rob Clarke thanked Qantas for its support over the past decades.

“While it's obviously disappointing to lose such a loyal partner, it's understandable given the world we live in and the challenges we all face,” he said.

The Australian Rugby Federation is already facing financial difficulties.

It has already dismissed in June 47 employees, or a third of its workforce and asked those remaining to accept a pay cut.

She also has no broadcast partner because as she sought a better deal, the sporting agenda was turned upside down by the novel coronavirus.

Last year, the federation suffered a deficit of nearly 10 million Australian dollars (6.1 million euros), aggravated by a heavy legal bill after the exclusion of star player Israel Folau for his repeated homophobic comments.

© 2020 AFP