The Tasman Rugby Union says it will be forced to pull out of top division rugby unless it finds $250,000 by mid-week.
Wednesday is the deadline set by the New Zealand Rugby Union for the amalgamated Nelson Bays-Marlborough Union to show it can survive financially in next year's Air New Zealand Cup.
Tasman is an amalgamation of the Nelson Bays and Marlborough unions.
The NZRU on Friday gave $150,000 to the Tasman Makos and other unions in funding.
But Tasman's chief executive Peter Barr says that leaves the union $250,000 short.
He says it's likely the union will have to disband and revert to Heartland Rugby.
