Perhaps someone will want their money back
- WA Government funding for 2019 Bledisloe Cup in Perth - $5 million?
- WA Government funding for nib Stadium upgrade - $95 million (50:50 split between Rugby WA and Perth Glory?)
- WA Government funding for new Rugby WA headquarters - $10 million
This may get interesting.
MASSIVE BEAT UP - SHOCKING JOURNALISTIC FAIL
These reports today are a great case of very bad sub-editing.
There is ZERO chance of the Force being culled, given the likelihood of ANY AU side being culled is a very long stretch.
The articles correctly point out that SA would be required to cull two of their own, plus ARG & JAP would have to go. The SANZAAR is a voting body. Neither NZ nor AU are going to vote on culling and AU franchise without SA chopping one of their own first and the likelihood of that happening.....?
Even if the impossible happens, would it be the Force? To even consider that would be the definition of stupid. The Force, like all other AU franchises have bled $. No news there. They have also struggled to make an impact on the comp. Again no news. However that would not be the measure when deciding a possible cull.
The Force, unlike their rest of their AU counterparts have and are maintaining good crowd numbers. When compared to the Rebels & Brumbies - there is no comparrison.
IF, and it's a HUGE if, an AU franchise goes, it will either be the Rebels or possible a merger of the Rebels & Brumbies.
The Rebels have lost 6-7 times what the Force have, can't give tickets away, and are based on the east coast - an unfavoured spot by SA & NZ when comparing WA due to travel.
It won't happen, but if hell freezes over, they put the gun to the Rebels and quietly put them down without a whimper, no one in Vic or NSW and QLD will care.
The ARU, like most sporting bodies make questionable decision, but as much as people like to smash them, their not a collection of morons.