Australian Rugby Union and Western Force Seal Alliance Agreement

https://www.westernforce.com.au/arti...ance-agreement

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and RugbyWA announced today that they have finalised an alliance agreement, enabling the Western Force to continue as a Western Australian team.

Under the agreement the ARU will integrate the professional Rugby program of the Western Force into the High Performance Unit of the ARU.

The alliance agreement comes after several weeks of planning between the ARU and RugbyWA to address financial concerns resulting from competitive challenges of having a team based away from Rugby’s traditional heartland on the east coast and the changing economic climate in Western Australia, which have affected the Perth-based club’s bottom line.

ARU CEO Bill Pulver said: “RugbyWA and the Western Force are not alone in their challenges to remain viable as a professional sports entity in Australia.

“Numerous teams across several codes are facing the same economic environment across professional sport and the ARU has been looking at ways to create a more efficient and effective way to run our Super Rugby businesses.

“The ARU and RugbyWA have collectively created a model which we believe will be more sustainable for our Super Rugby organisations in Australia.

“Ultimately the alliance aims to deliver financial sustainability and improved high performance outcomes for the Western Force.”

Pulver said the alliance will be managed effectively in order to maintain the Western Force’s unique identity and connection to the local community.

“The other really important outcome is that the Western Force will continue to be deeply entrenched in the Perth community. They will continue to have a brand which is unique to them.”

Under the alliance Western Force players and professional Rugby staff will become ARU employees.

The RugbyWA board will continue to be responsible for the community game in Western Australia and the pathway through to professional rugby through its 'Future Force' program.

Current RugbyWA CEO, Mark Sinderberry will remain in his position and will have dual reporting lines to the ARU and the RugbyWA board.

Tony Howarth, RugbyWA Chairman said: “The RugbyWA Board is excited to have developed this alliance with the ARU. We are confident that through this partnership we can provide a more attractive rugby program here in Perth by the Force being integrated into the ARU’s high performance unit.

"This will enable the Force to continue the journey we started over 10 years ago to bring outstanding rugby talent to Perth, develop Wallabies and play a style of rugby that attracts members, sponsors and connects with the large Rugby community we have in the West. It also assures the financial viability of the team for the future.”

Pulver added: “From an Australian Rugby point of view, it’s not only essential that we continue to support RugbyWA and the Western Force but to ensure the game remains strong at the community level in Western Australia and that the Super Rugby team is given the best opportunity to succeed.

“It is our absolute priority at all times to act with the best interests of Australian Rugby as a whole and to protect the long term health and prosperity of the game in Australia.

“It has been well documented that Australian Rugby has faced financial challenges in recent years and a range of measures were taken to ensure it remained sustainable. A significant new broadcast agreement has relieved pressure on the game but it must remain vigilant in the face of a challenging sporting landscape in Australia.”

- See more at: https://www.westernforce.com.au/arti....WnLcRsA8.dpuf

Oh look. They were negotiating the final arrangement. Whoever would have thought that might have been the case for the delay?

Shorter version -ARU take over complete control of the Force, its employees and its contractual obligations from RugbyWA and run it as an ARU enterprise out of WA. In return RugbyWA is released from its obligations re the Force and reverts to running club Rugby and the development squad.

Not stated whether Sinderberry's salary is to be paid by RugbyWA or ARU or both, given his stated dual roll in both now entirely separate organisations.

Work out the ramifications yourselves.

I think based on the situation we were faced with this is an excellent outcome:

Important points:

* Based in Perth with a unique identity
* Connection to the local community
* Bring outstanding rugby talent to Perth
* Develop Wallabies and play a style of rugby that attracts members, sponsors

I for one feel much relief and look forward to continuing this journey that started for me in 2006.

With you Taz.
Let's be positive folks. Shooting it down before its started and probably without any inside knowledge is bloody pathetic!

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Originally Posted by fulvio sammut

Not stated whether Sinderberry's salary is to be paid by RugbyWA or ARU or both, given his stated dual roll in both now entirely separate organisations.

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.......unless this also applies to the Managing Director.

"Under the agreement the ARU will integrate the professional Rugby program of the Western Force into the High Performance Unit of the ARU."

This is the important part, which can only be an improvement on the current situation. As proven over 10 years the Rugby WA board do not have the ability to properly manage a professional rugby program.

Well, it is an answer of sorts. To summarise how I read that then:

• The Force and RWA are completely divorced from each other.
• The Force is now owned entirely by the ARU, including all incomings and outgoings.
• RWA reverts to running local rugby, on the strength of the $200k it has always received the ARU.
• The Force can now be bundled up for sale/award to others, with or without pre-conditions.
• That could include to RWA, if they can come up with the money again from sources completely separate from those now flowing to the Force/ARU.

Can't say that filled me with any confidence, in particular that closing quote from Pulver. Seems to me that specifically adding “It is our absolute priority at all times to act with the best interests of Australian Rugby as a whole and to protect the long term health and prosperity of the game in Australia" carries a real subtext that wouldn't need saying if the interests of Australian and Western Australian rugby were actually aligned.

Not saying it can't work, but will say that it won't if control of each team doesn't end up with an organisation that is invested in the relevant location, the teams success and Australian Rugby. By definition that can't be the ARU, when they have to be equally invested in the success of all locations.

Interesting that the NRC team wasn't mentioned...wonder whether that will continue as a training run for the Force, or will become the standalone pinnacle of the local game run by RWA?

A lot can happen in 5 years. RWA needs to start planning now for 2021.

And remember that western Sydney doesn't give a fuck about Union

Hope now the ARU are responsible they will move heaven and earth to get us on an even footing with the other AUS teams. Would have to think if they were serious this is a better outcome than fading further into financial obscurity.

but remember ARU, if you break it you own it....

THE Western Force’s short-term future in Perth has been secured after signing up to an alliance deal with the Australian Rugby Union.

The agreement has been signed after several weeks of negotiations, and is set to last until at least the next broadcast agreement, which is four years away.

The ARU hopes the alliance will help the Force turn around their financial woes, with the aim of turning the franchise into a profitable enterprise.

Under the agreement, the ARU will integrate the professional rugby program of the Western Force into the high-performance unit of the ARU.

But the future of coach Michael Foley remains up in the air.

Foley has one more year to run on his existing deal, but his position will be reviewed at the end of the season.

Western Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said turning around the club’s on-field fortunes would play a key role in helping the franchise become profitable.

He said having access to the ARU’s high-performance unit would be critical in achieving on-field success and “regaining support from the WA community.”

“Those people are still there, and they all still love their rugby. And they’re still supporting the game in various forms,” Sinderberry said.

“So it’s not a huge step for us to take to regain those levels of support in the past. But we do need to start producing on the field.”

ARU chief executive Bill Pulver hopes the deal will help the Force flourish.

“Ultimately, the alliance aims to deliver financial sustainability and improved high-performance outcomes for the Western Force,” Pulver said.

“The other really important outcome is that the Western Force will continue to be deeply entrenched in the Perth community. They will continue to have a brand which is unique to them.”

http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/m...7d8bed39bdf496

"I for one, welcome our new insect overlords."

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Originally Posted by jono

And remember that western Sydney doesn't give a fuck about Union

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You are off the mark. Western Sydney has a high number of people from the PI's who are just as likely to point their kids at Rugby as to RL. But the Mungos have scooped most of those kids because the inner Sydney Rugby clubs and by extension the NSWRU and ARU didn't give a f@ck about Western Sydney until it is/was too late.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shasta

You are off the mark. Western Sydney has a high number of people from the PI's who are just as likely to point their kids at Rugby as to RL. But the Mungos have scooped most of those kids because the inner Sydney Rugby clubs and by extension the NSWRU and ARU didn't give a f@ck about Western Sydney until it is/was too late.

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I think its a very safe bet that NSWRU doesnt give a f#ck about Western Sydney Rugby.

Yes there is a large population of Pacific Islanders living in Western Sydney. Penrith Emu Rugby Union Football Club are sitting comfortably on the bottom of the Shute Shield (they havent won a game this year) with Parramatta Two Blues not that far behind them.

Penrith Rugby Park has a grand stand that was built in the 70's or 80's and seats approx, 1000 people, the rest of the ground is a grass covered and becomes a swamp when wet. Current Coach Jeremy Paul is struggling to sign players as they have lost sponsors because of rumors to financial misdealings by the Board. 8 players left the Emus to come and play for my club - where they dont get paid. They were unhappy with the way they were treated.

Pepper Stadium (capacity 22500) - the home of the Penrith Mungos (Panthers) is owned lock stock and barrel by the Penrith Leagues Club - I believe it is the largest club in the Southern Hemisphere. And unlikely to share their ground with anyone, especially from another code.

Parramatta Rugby Park - has an even smaller grandstand that was built in the 1930s out of sandstone and is surrounded by Large Fig Trees - would be amazed if the capacity was more then 10,000 people.

Parramatta Stadium - home the the Mungo Eels - is also the home ground of the Western Sydney Warriors Soccer team I would be surprised if the were to share the ground with another tennant - especially when they use the ground at the same time of year.

ANZ Stadium - Home of the Mungo Rabbitohs - is about to go thru a 4 year renovation.

Why would the Warratahs want to give up part of their fan base - and share the sponsorship dollars with another team in the same market? Plus loose access to half their player base.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fulvio sammut

"I for one, welcome our new insect overlords."

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Unless you're Matt Groening you're stealing my bit...