Force set to be axed

[WFDom]

Just got up for my nightshift and have read all that's been going on!

Fu@k me! Totally blown away by it all. Never has this websites motto been more true....



There are going to be some very worried people not getting much sleep tonight..... Gloves are OFF!

[andrewg]

Don't agree with all that Alan Jones says about the Wallabies chances but he's on the money with regards to the ARU and Western Force debacle.

Alan Jones on Fox Sports

[Egan]

Just for some historical perspective, Perth sports fans have re-instated a coach for the Glory after state outrage in 2000. Nick Tana had to go back on his decision and re-instated Bernd Stange after rallies and commercial outrage.

The more this stays in the news, the more damaging to the commercial branding nationally of Rugby, the more likely people are going to have to swallow their pride.

From all of these reports, it seems like the ARU have been unwilling to compromise since the start and continue to under-estimate the unity of purpose and passion of Western Australian sports fans.

They should go ring Nick Tana up and his experiences in 2000...

[Alison]

Have a read of this everyone. An interview Clyne has given to John Stensholt of the Fin Review. It just gets ever more staggering what comes out of Clyne's mouth.

Do your worst with tearing him apart TWFers!!


Cameron Clyne has a belief that the toughest days in rugby union still outrank working in banking, even though the rewards for him were high during his five-year stint as chief executive of National Australia Bank.

But as the chairman of the Australian Rugby Union for the past 20 months, Clyne has had to weather a public storm like nothing he experienced in his banking days.

Clyne and the soon-to-depart ARU chief executive Bill Pulver have been in the gun over the ARU's fumbling of its decision to cut one local Super Rugby team, something that took several months before the August 11 announcement that the Western Force would be chopped and which is now subject to Federal Court action.

Former rugby internationals and prominent figures like commentator Alan Jones, a Wallabies coaching legend, have called for Clyne's head and accused him of dithering over the Force decision, having little regard for the sport's grassroots and no long-term vision for the code. There was even criticism of the polo shirt – and lack of suit – Clyne wore to the press conference revealing the Force decision.

Clyne tells AFR Weekend that he is happy to wear the criticism and is steadfast in his belief that he and his board are ultimately adopting the right long-term strategy in chopping the Force, even if he can't publicly explain the full rationale for the decision until the Force's application to overturn the ruling – funded by billionaire Andrew Forrest – is played out in court.

"You put up with [the criticism] because you have a life-long passion for the game and you think you're doing the right thing for the game as a whole. I'm happy to be targeted because the alternative is worse. There's a legal process and while we absolutely want to say more we have to wait, and you can't have the governing body betraying confidences in the meantime."

Clyne says the Force decision was made because Australian rugby simply could not afford to carry five Super Rugby teams and that the ARU's involvement in the ill-fated decision to expand the competition to 18 teams two years ago, including sides in Argentina and Japan "was before my time".

He also says all of rugby's member states wanted one team to be cut, but the argument at an extraordinary general meeting in June came down to whether it was the Force or Melbourne Rebels to go not whether four or five teams was the right number.

The ARU chairman insists a trans-Tasman only competition was contemplated – "New Zealand didn't want it" – and mergers between Australian teams were considered, "but to merge you have to have geographical proximity and we don't have that, though no one wanted to merge anyway".

"This is not a consequence free decision. I get that. You have to step back and have some strategic perspective around it. The ARU has stepped in 10 times 10 years to help Super Rugby clubs financially. You've got the escalating cost in Super Rugby and team performances going down.

"When we had three Australian teams we won 60 per cent of Super Rugby games. With four teams that went to 50 per cent and with five 40 per cent. There's an absolutely clear correlation between a team's performance on the field and the revenue they can generate."

Clyne insists that once it has clinched a deal with broadcasters to still pay the ARU the same money ($55 million annually) with one less team there was the opportunity to deploy the savings back to grassroots rugby, where he says participation numbers have grown for the first time in a decade and where women's rugby is thriving.

But he says the money – he will not say how much yet – will be targeted to such efforts as having more development officers and coaching clinics.

Clyne says he will still attend the Wallabies test against South Africa in Perth on September 9, even if the reception he gets will be hostile and he has no intention of leaving. He will be at the Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand on Saturday night and has attended plenty of club and school rugby this year.

"I was only re-elected by the members in April. Look, nothing we can stay will placate the people of Western Australia, but a decision had to be made. We are probably here because we didn't make the hard decisions earlier."


http://www.afr.com/business/sport/ar...0170817-gxypba

[SNOB]

What a horrible, sleazy excuse for a man! Can't even admit there are other ways.
We better make sure we really roll out the welcome mat when he comes to Perth!

[Naggs]

Make sure if you're boycotting an ERU sponsor that you make it clear to them why. Especially when cancelling your foxtel.

[Jules]

What a dick seriously he needs to go all he sees is this way which is not what is needed. They need a new CEO who says WTF are you lot doing!!

[WFDom]

"We are probably here because we didn't make the hard decisions earlier."

You did make the hard (unfair/easiest/biased) decision earlier you prick!

You fucked up when you expected us to just take it with out fighting...... WRONG, WRONG!

[andrewg]

[B][I]

"When we had three Australian teams we won 60 per cent of Super Rugby games. With four teams that went to 50 per cent and with five 40 per cent. There's an absolutely clear correlation between a team's performance on the field and the revenue they can generate."

Dear Cameron.....correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation! But you probably never covered that doing your BA......
Perhaps the other national teams made the necessary changes to ensure success where the ARU/Wallabies just kept making the same basic errors. e.g. packing a side full of players from a team that was so easily rolled this year.
The Wallabies and Waratahs woes have a lot in common.

He may have attended plenty of club and school rugby this year but, just like Cheika - the National coach, none of it was in Perth.

[SNOB]

Selection Has been the biggest failing. Just because your paying some one doesn't make them the best! Pay a match fee and get rid of the top ups and things will improve! You can save money and keep 5!
No BA or masters needed!

[sandgroperrugby]

All I read into that is that the ants are scurrying around the ARU trying to come up with rational reasons. But if the bullshit that kafer showed on Kick Chase the other night is anything to go by then it will be an epic fail.

[antiussentiment]

But he (Clyne) says the money – he will not say how much yet – will be targeted to such efforts as having more development officers and coaching clinics.

Those development officers still have to have young players to coach.. I feel young players will be much thinner on the ground in Western Australia without the blue jumper to aspire to.

[sandgroperrugby]

Those development officers still have to have young players to coach.. I feel young players will be much thinner on the ground in Western Australia without the blue jumper to aspire to.

According to Clyne the Tahs and rebels jerseys are blue so what is the problem.

[shasta]

All I read into that is that the ants are scurrying around the ARU trying to come up with rational reasons. But if the bullshit that kafer showed on Kick Chase the other night is anything to go by then it will be an epic fail.

ARU Board member finally picks up the phone.

[Sheikh]

All I read into that is that the ants are scurrying around the ARU trying to come up with rational reasons. But if the bullshit that kafer showed on Kick Chase the other night is anything to go by then it will be an epic fail.

What I read into it was this paragraph:

Clyne insists that once it has clinched a deal with broadcasters to still pay the ARU the same money ($55 million annually) with one less team there was the opportunity to deploy the savings back to grassroots rugby, where he says participation numbers have grown for the first time in a decade and where women's rugby is thriving.

The ARU gets $55 million a year for 5 teams. They clinch the deal to keep $55 million a year with only 4 teams, so that's $11 million a year of 'free' money. It doesn't matter which team gets cut, they get the same deal. But theARU can't cut the Tahs or Reds, cutting the Brumbies will be difficult as they're the best performing, and Clyne's put a lot personally into have Melbourne privately owned.

So the Force get cut and the ARU hopes that the threat of lower funding for grassroots and women's rugby will turn rugby supporters from all other states against WA.