The team Twiggy has assembled to take the proposed Indo-Pacific League to the next stage.
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The team Twiggy has assembled to take the proposed Indo-Pacific League to the next stage.
SME's - he'll fond them all here on TWF :approve:
They could do worse
We are a focus group. With a few established biases.
The Force was able to play rugby union because it came under the umbrella of the Western Australian Rugby Union, which in turn came under the umbrella of the Australian Rugby Union, in turn a member of the International Rugby Board.
My understanding is, and I would be pleased to be corrected, that only a rugby team recognised by its parent union, and approved to play by its parent union, can participate in the game of rugby.
The Intellectual property pertaining to the game itself belongs to the IRB, and theoretically anyone organising a rugby match without their approval can be subject to applications for injunctions and (theoretically) damages.
Of course, in practice unauthorised games are played all over the world, and the IRB and home unions turn a blind eye unless it affects their income or player base.
In relation to Twiggy's proposed competition, it will certainly affect the ARU's finances and player base, not to mention the bad blood between RugbyWA, and Twiggy on one side, and the ARU on the other.
The ARU's approval therefore is by no means a given, and the same principle applies to the other teams in Twiggy's proposed competition; will their home unions give approval, especially the Pacific Ocean Unions who may be beholden to the "generosity" of the ARU?
There is a lot of politics and positioning required in all this before any alternate competition can be run without the agreement of the ARU, which agreement, I predict, will not be forth coming.
The alternate route for RugbyWA therefore, as I see it, is for it to disassociate itself from the ARU, and apply for independent membership of the IRB.
Western Australia is an independent sovereign State in its own right, and the Commonwealth Constitution does not prevent the State from independently entering into international sporting arrangements. With the backing of the State Government (which under the present Government is surely forthcoming) a successful application is realistic.
There exists a precedent (of sorts) already.
The USA is a member of the IRB in its own right, as is the US Territory of American Samoa in its own right. What's the difference with our situation?
If the IRB is genuine in its desire to promote rugby, what better opportunity is there for it to do so than by embracing a region abandoned by its parent union, and a team which has proven itself to be equal top in the number games won in the Australian Super 18 Conference?
Of course there are other issues. for example would players in Twiggy's team be eligible to play for the Wallabies or would they have to play exclusively for WA's State team, and how competitive would WA be on the international stage against Australia and others? Would players from other states (and overseas) be eligible to play for WA?
Now I'm playing around with this at home while I'm recovering from a dose of pneumonia, and my thinking isn't as clear as it should be. Twiggy and co have a sharp bunch of legal minds at their disposal, and I'm sure they are considering all the angles.
Good luck.
Fulv, Have I not posted that idea before?
I know I've thought about it and I reckon WA might be close to qualifying for the World Cup if we qualify through Asia.
I would also petition the IRB for the right to select WA eligible players who are currently identified as Australian players in a one-time deal due to our special circumstances.
I'm sure in the current Climat Dane would be keen to play his International rugby for WA instead of the Wallabies. Adam Coleman, David Pocock, James O'Connor, Matt Hodgson, Tetera Faulkner, Pek Cowan, Richard Hardwick, Richard Brown would all be WA eligible if the team had existed when they commenced their international rugby career, (possibly plenty of others who I've forgotten) but, if we could offer WA eligibility to those players, and the players could indicate their preference, recusing themselves from playing with any other international team, I think it would have some serious legs.
I also don't think it sets up a precedent which will harm World Rugby, if A union splits in two in the same fashion in the future, It would be a sensible way of handling the inevitable backlash from players and fans.
You may have Gigs, I can't recall. I'm looking at it from the perspective of the divorce from ARU and involvement in Twiggy's competition, rather than international representation at present.
Affiliate with the asian rugby football union and move on without limks to australian rugby. WA could effectively compete in international tournaments as wa just as hong kong competes separately to china.
Darkness, your practical suggestion bears serious consideration as an alternative to my cumbersome legalistic approach.
I can forsee some downside re player eligibility, but perhaps these can be overcome.
Has the question been asked?? Billy Beaumont was out in Australia over the last SR season, Whats world rugby's take on this matter, No doubt Agustín Pichot is right up SANZARS arse as he wants Argentina to bid for the 2023 world cup.. I am dam sure that its an embaressment to world rugby the way this has been handled,, Gosper must have some pull for us
Bill Beaumont is a man of honour and integrity. Maybe we should pen a letter to him?
Just a great read ,, Can't apply to ARU http://www.worldrugby.org/spirit-of-rugby
Traditionally World Rugby has been a regulator and an investor in world rugby. It has successfully steered the growth and development of the global game to record levels of participation through investment driven by its flagship tournament, Rugby World Cup, and strong governance worldwide.
World Rugby now wishes to innovate and inspire through participation, engagement, education and regulation, harnessing the sport’s character-building values to excite, engage and inform new audiences in existing and new rugby markets.
World Rugby Vision: Rugby - a sport for all, true to its values
World Rugby Mission: Growing the global rugby family
World Rugby Core Values: Inherent in everything we do are our values of integrity, respect, solidarity, passion and discipline.
Copy of world rugbys vision