Brumbies wary of poaching rule change
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February 22, 2010 - 7:04PM
The Brumbies have warned existing Australian Super rugby teams are vulnerable to another Western Force-type raid after the Australian Rugby Union significantly relaxed its poaching restrictions on Monday.
New Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels' recruitment campaign will move up a notch with the ARU bringing forward its player transfer deadline almost 11 weeks to March 15.
Eager to avoid another Force poaching frenzy, when the battling Queensland Reds were pillaged in 2005, the national body had originally set a May 31 deadline.
But with the Rebels only having one player on its books for 2011, former England five-eighth Danny Cipriani, and threatening legal action, all five provinces are now free to start signing Australian-based Super 14 players in three weeks' time.
Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan would not criticise the ARU but was disappointed by the late alteration, forcing existing teams to make contract calls on their players after just a handful of rounds into the 2010 Super 14.
Fagan felt a struggling team, like Jeff Miller's Reds of five years ago, would be in incredible danger of having their talent stripped midway through the season.
"We have to work hard to make sure it doesn't descend into a farce which it had previously," he said. "I hope there's no repeat from last time but we'll wait and see.
"We're forced into doing something we don't want to do and that doesn't sit well but I'm not criticising the ARU at all because they have a challenging position with a new team coming in."
But Fagan said his own fears were not of the Rod Macqueen-led Rebels raiding the Brumbies ranks, more the already established provinces.
"Melbourne doesn't concern me, I don't think they can sell a dream over what we've got here," he said. "I'd be far more concerned about Queensland and NSW and the Western Force who have proven rugby programs rather than a team being put together for the first time."
The ARU's decision, and an extension for the Rebels to reach their working capital requirement, will still ease pressure on the privately owned franchise, who are reportedly seeking an additional $6 million in private equity.
Investors have been waiting to see what kind of team the Rebels recruit before they commit to the franchise.
"The sooner we get moving in announcing key signings of Australian players, the sooner we can put together a financial proposition to build the brand of the Rebels so it was imperative that that changed to assist us," said Rebels chief executive Brian Waldron of the date change.
"In essence this gives us 11 months to put together a team to run on the park and also to get the necessary funds together from a commercial and sponsorship point of view.
"I came out of last week's meeting with (ARU boss) John O'Neill absolutely confident that the ARU was supportive of what we were trying to do and this confirms my belief.
"They want us to be successful, they want to help us be successful and at the same time ensure the existing provinces are protected where possible."
O'Neill admitted players announcing midway through a season they would be switching teams the following season was still a concern.
The Rebels' wish-list includes Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes, David Pocock, Peter Hynes and Benn Robinson, while they are waiting to hear back from former league Test star Mark Gasnier after the ARU tabled him a formal offer.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news...0222-orfj.html
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