SA Rugby says former Springbok jersey sponsor Absa is still liable for a certain amount of sponsorship money.

The bank unexpectedly decided to end its sponsorship last year, with the slow pace of transformation in the sport said to have played a role in the decision.

According to Rapport, thousands of Bok jerseys with the Absa logo had already been made and there are boxes full of these jerseys at SA Rugby's offices.

An SA Rugby spokesman confirmed that 'the matter is in the hands of our lawyers' and that negotiations with a new sponsor (said to be Blue Label Telecoms) are at an advanced stage.

The Boks will wear white jerseys, without a main sponsor on the front, during their three-Test series against Ireland in June to avoid a colour clash.