The Highlanders and the University of Otago announced a two-year sponsorship deal yesterday, with the university logo to be worn on the back of the Highlanders jersey.
The side will wear the logo in its final pre-season match against the Waratahs in Newcastle on Friday night.
Clark, the Highlanders general manager, said the deal made the Highlanders more secure into the future.
''It is no secret that commercially we have to stand on our own two feet in this part of the world. And this is a great opportunity to tie up with such an iconic organisation as the university,'' Clark said.
''This is a significant commercial deal for the Highlanders.''
No-one would disclose the amount of the sponsorship but other Super 15 teams have similar sponsorships with brand names on the back of their jerseys.
Under New Zealand Rugby Union rules, the franchises do have the ability to strike a deal for sponsorship on the back of the jersey.
The front of the five New Zealand Super 15 sides jersey and a part of the shorts have a national sponsor - BNZ - arranged by the NZRU.
Clark said there were another couple of sponsorship deals to come in coming weeks but nothing on the scale of the university deal announced yesterday.
The Highlanders were still in the hands of the national union as the process to get some private investment into the franchise, which had been done by the other four New Zealand franchises, was yet to get under way.
It was hoped the process would be completed this year and the next move was for the New Zealand Rugby Union to appoint someone who would run the investment process.
When that happens has not been finalised.
Clark said the sponsorship was another positive when the team went looking for private investment.
''With a fantastic stadium, great sponsorship like this, and some great fans the franchise is looking ahead for a good season. Now all we need to do is to win games.''
The side disappointed on the field last season, finishing 14th when expectations were high.
With a clean-out of All Blacks, expectations have lowered considerably for this season, but Clark was confident the popularity of the team had not suffered.
''We still get a massive television audience for each game. The number of people who are watching, following the team on the internet, makes us one of the most followed teams in the competition.''
An average television audience of 250,000 watched every Highlanders game.
''We are everybody's second-most-watched team. Apart from the Crusaders, here in New Zealand we are the team which everyone follows.''
Clark said the franchise already used the university in marketing and sports medicine expertise and that would continue.
Its first game in the competition is against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 22.