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Thread: Force set to be axed

  1. #421
    Legend Contributor fulvio sammut's Avatar
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    Once upon a time, long ago, Australia became a Federation of States.

    The big boys at the time, NSW and Victoria, both wanted the new Nation's Capital to be in their respective States.

    After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, it was agreed that the Capital should be situated in a new "Territory", situated roughly half way between Sydney and Melbourne.

    So would it be too unreasonable and fanciful to suggest, that as the populations of Canberra and Melbourne haven't shown overwhelming enthusiasm or support for either the Brumbies or the Rebels, that they be amalgamated, and relocated in some town located roughly half way between the two cities?

    Any suggestions for an acceptable site?

    If that solution was acceptable to the founders of our Nation, why should it not be so for the shiny pants of the ARU?

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    Last edited by fulvio sammut; 17-04-17 at 09:42.

  2. #422
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    Woodonga? They could be called the Dongas. Woodonga Dongas.

    EDIT: Actually the more I think about it, the more I think that this would make a sensational crowd chant.

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    Last edited by James; 17-04-17 at 09:57.
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  3. #423
    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GIGS20 View Post
    By the sound of it, merge is going to be the only option, but then you're stuck with the where to locate argument.

    I would be no more willing to support some half assed "Western force" based in Canberra which plays a couple of home games over here.

    If it contained a strong contingent of local players, I might show up to matches in Perth, but even that's unlikely.

    Maybe Canberra people will be different, they don't seem to show up to matches all that often anyhow.
    There's absolutely no way I'm supporting this team anywhere but Perth.
    We are the best placed in all aspects of a team to have benefit to super rugby and to Australian rugby. We deserve to remain. If we go I 100% hope that we take the current form of the ARU with us. Because they deserved it long before this clusterfuck and even more so now.

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  4. #424
    Legend Contributor Alison's Avatar
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    Same. While it would be good for our schoolboys and girls to continue to have the pathway, there is no way I would have anywhere near as much interest or passion for the team if it was some sort of mongrel breed.

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  5. #425
    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    Well, something has to give. If force rebels and brumbies all insist on everything staying in its current form, then the ARU will simply need to kill the one that's the least hassle. Since we are the one that they went to London with an intention to kill, I'd suggest we started on the back foot.

    The writ has helped to change that, but we'd need to have a buttload of ammo to win the war

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    C'mon the

  6. #426
    Legend Contributor Alison's Avatar
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    An interesting analysis by Fox on who they think would get into the Wallaby 23 today if it were purely picked on current SuperRugby form. There are FIVE Force players even without Benny Mac and Adam Coleman. And zero Rebels players. Tell me again why it's the Force in the box seat for the chopping block rather than the Rebels?!!! Another very valid reson why any decision to throw the Force under the bus is myopic in the extreme 😡😤

    http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...7cb4cea6df031c


    WE’VE ticked over the halfway point of the Super Rugby season and, at last, all five franchises have registered a win following the Rebels’ dramatic late win over the Brumbies on Saturday night.

    We’ve put together a Wallabies team based purely on form this season so far.

    This is not the team that will run out against Fiji on June 10 in Melbourne but one that, on form alone, will give Wallabies coach Michael Cheika food for thought.

    Without further ado…

    15: Karmichael Hunt (Reds)

    The code-hopping fullback has been Queensland’s best player throughout the opening two months.


    Hunt is one of the safest under the high ball in Australian rugby, running with zest and hitting hard in the tackle.

    In a tough start to the year, Hunt was the most consistent and threatening player for the Reds.

    14: Henry Speight (Brumbies)

    Firing on all cylinders, Speight should be one of the first picked for the Wallabies.

    The Brumbies winger is back to the heights of 2014, before injury struck and his confidence wavered.

    Speight, alongside the Reds’ Eto Nabuli, is the leading Australian tryscorer with six meat pies, but just as importantly he’s breaking tackles and hunting for the ball.

    13: Samu Kerevi (Reds)

    On the basis that he’s demanding the ball and doing plenty with it, Kerevi edges out Tevita Kuridrani.

    Kuridrani’s strength – which just happens to be the aspect plaguing Kerevi’s game – is his defence.

    But the massive outside centre, needs to get more involved in attack to take his game to the next level.

    Kerevi on the other hand, is one of the hardest players to bring down in Super Rugby.

    He’s second only to Damian McKenzie (110) with ball carries, trucking it up on 101 occasions and comfortably leads the count with defenders beaten (36).

    The other aspect of Kerevi’s game which is exciting is his ability to offload the ball, but there’s a fine balance between creating second phase ball and wasting possession.

    12: Billy Meakes (Force)

    Defensively very strong and a hard running centre, Meakes has made a seamless transition to Super Rugby.

    Meakes is unlikely to play for the Wallabies given Cheika’s desire to have a ball-playing inside centre, but he’s stiffened the Force’s backline up immensely.

    Meakes has edged out Duncan Paia’aua, who has grown immensely in his second season and looks to be a fantastic long-term prospect for the Wallabies.

    11: Eto Nabuli (Reds)

    Another player who looks considerably more comfortable in his second season, Nabuli now understands the game after a difficult first season.

    Cooper forecasted in the pre-season that Nabuli would make an impression in 2017 and indeed he has.

    The former NRL winger has six tries in 2017 and his 14 linebreaks sees him second only to the Hurricanes’ Ngani Laumape in that category.

    10: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)

    Concussion has restricted Foley to just two matches in 2017, but in the little game time he’s had the Test playmaker has brought structure and spark to the Waratahs’ miserable campaign.

    9: Joe Powell (Brumbies)

    The rise of Powell continues and a Wallabies jersey seems inevitable for the Brumbies No 9.

    With the exception of a flutter or two against the Highlanders earlier in the month, Powell is a calm head, probes the defensive line, has a good pass, defensively sound and his kicking game is improving all the time.

    8: Scott Higginbotham (Reds)

    The Reds’ pack has been pretty ordinary this year, but Higginbotham is an exception.

    A ball playing backrower, Higginbotham finds the try-line more than most and is very useful at the lineout and back of the scrum.

    Will we get to see him wearing gold?

    Unfortunately he’s never strung strong performances back to back for the national team, but with David Pocock away for the year it would be great to see him given one more chance.

    7: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

    The flanker has been the Waratahs’ best player throughout the first half of the season.

    Hooper wears his heart on his sleeve and leaves nothing out on the field.

    Colby Fainga’a and Chris Alcock are having very good seasons, but Hooper – without Pocock and Liam Gill on the scene – is your clear No 7.

    6: Scott Fardy (Brumbies)

    The heart and soul of the Brumbies, Fardy is back to his best in 2017.

    Fardy was below his best last year, with a taxing World Cup year clearly catching up on him.

    But the blindside flanker looks revitalised this season and is one of the best in the business across the field and at the set-piece.

    It’s a shame Fardy is heading to Ireland at season’s end, but the development of Ned Hanigan and Isi Naisarani is a positive sign for the future.

    5: Matt Philip (Force)

    There were deep concerns when Adam Coleman went down earlier in the year, but Philip has been fantastic in his debut season.

    A great lineout operator, Philip is also useful across the field and often gets over the advantage line.

    4: Rory Arnold (Brumbies)

    After making his Test debut last season, there have been no second year blues for Arnold who has been one of the most impressive players this year running around in Australian rugby.

    His performance two weeks ago against the Reds was world class.

    3: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)

    With Sekope Kepu not getting any younger, Alaalatoa’s development is one of the more pleasing things in Australian rugby at the moment.

    For a team to be successful the scrum needs to be strong and set the foundation, thankfully Alaalatoa is doing just that

    2: Tolu Latu (Waratahs)

    It’ll be fascinating to see what role Latu plays in 2017 for the Wallabies because he’s been by far and away Australia’s best in the hooking position thus far this season.

    It’s more likely he’ll earn a bench role given Moore is the captain and incumbent, but it wouldn’t surprise if by year’s end he’s made the role his own.

    Very good around the field and over the ball, Latu’s set-piece is getting better by the day and ultimately that is what a hooker is selected for.

    1: Scott Sio (Brumbies)

    Missed the opening month because of injury, but has been in good form since returning.

    One of the best scrummagers running around, Sio will once again wear the No 1 jersey come June.

    16: Robbie Abel (Brumbies)

    It’s hard to comprehend how the Force let Abel go, but the Brumbies hooker has quickly made an impression.

    In just his second season of Super Rugby, the 27-year-old has gone from third-string hooker last year to starting rake in 2017 after the departure of Moore and injury to Josh Mann-Rea.

    Abel’s set-piece is very good and he’s often finding a way, particular at the back of the rolling maul, to get on the scoreboard.

    17: Ben Daley (Force)

    Injuries have slowed his progress over the past few seasons, but Daley is a new man at the Force since leaving the Reds.

    The loose-head held up the scrum very well for the Force across the ditch earlier this month when the Force had difficult matches against the Crusaders and Blues.

    18: Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)

    A rock at the scrum, Kepu remains one of the best scrummagers in Australia but he’s got to eradicate the silly infringements from his game.

    19: Ned Hanigan (Waratahs)

    Capable of playing in the second-row and at blindside flanker, Hanigan rips in and very handy across the field.

    20: Isi Naisarani (Force)

    Jarrad Butler has been impressive for the Brumbies, but for his explosiveness Naisarani has been picked.

    He’s raw, but Naisarani has a world of potential and is the best young new talent in Australian rugby.

    Naisarani can play at either blindside or No 8.

    21: Jake Gordon (Waratahs)

    Isn’t it refreshing to see a scrum-half who is prepared to run the ball?

    22: Quade Cooper (Reds)

    Cooper’s match against the Kings on Saturday was one his most complete performances since 2011.

    Sure he missed three matches for a high shot (which was a bit hard, but considering his record fair enough), but he’s still got plenty to offer.

    23: Dane Haylett-Petty (Force)

    It was impossible to leave Haylett-Petty out of the team altogether.

    Likely to start ahead of Hunt, but on the wing given Israel Folau has a mortgage on the No 15 jersey for the Wallabies.

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  7. #427
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alison View Post
    An interesting analysis by Fox on who they think would get into the Wallaby 23 today if it were purely picked on current SuperRugby form. There are FIVE Force players even without Benny Mac and Adam Coleman. And zero Rebels players. Tell me again why it's the Force in the box seat for the chopping block rather than the Rebels?!!! Another very valid reson why any decision to throw the Force under the bus is myopic in the extreme 😡😤

    http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/su...7cb4cea6df031c


    WE’VE ticked over the halfway point of the Super Rugby season and, at last, all five franchises have registered a win following the Rebels’ dramatic late win over the Brumbies on Saturday night.

    We’ve put together a Wallabies team based purely on form this season so far.

    This is not the team that will run out against Fiji on June 10 in Melbourne but one that, on form alone, will give Wallabies coach Michael Cheika food for thought.

    Without further ado…

    15: Karmichael Hunt (Reds)

    The code-hopping fullback has been Queensland’s best player throughout the opening two months.


    Hunt is one of the safest under the high ball in Australian rugby, running with zest and hitting hard in the tackle.

    In a tough start to the year, Hunt was the most consistent and threatening player for the Reds.

    14: Henry Speight (Brumbies)

    Firing on all cylinders, Speight should be one of the first picked for the Wallabies.

    The Brumbies winger is back to the heights of 2014, before injury struck and his confidence wavered.

    Speight, alongside the Reds’ Eto Nabuli, is the leading Australian tryscorer with six meat pies, but just as importantly he’s breaking tackles and hunting for the ball.

    13: Samu Kerevi (Reds)

    On the basis that he’s demanding the ball and doing plenty with it, Kerevi edges out Tevita Kuridrani.

    Kuridrani’s strength – which just happens to be the aspect plaguing Kerevi’s game – is his defence.

    But the massive outside centre, needs to get more involved in attack to take his game to the next level.

    Kerevi on the other hand, is one of the hardest players to bring down in Super Rugby.

    He’s second only to Damian McKenzie (110) with ball carries, trucking it up on 101 occasions and comfortably leads the count with defenders beaten (36).

    The other aspect of Kerevi’s game which is exciting is his ability to offload the ball, but there’s a fine balance between creating second phase ball and wasting possession.

    12: Billy Meakes (Force)

    Defensively very strong and a hard running centre, Meakes has made a seamless transition to Super Rugby.

    Meakes is unlikely to play for the Wallabies given Cheika’s desire to have a ball-playing inside centre, but he’s stiffened the Force’s backline up immensely.

    Meakes has edged out Duncan Paia’aua, who has grown immensely in his second season and looks to be a fantastic long-term prospect for the Wallabies.

    11: Eto Nabuli (Reds)

    Another player who looks considerably more comfortable in his second season, Nabuli now understands the game after a difficult first season.

    Cooper forecasted in the pre-season that Nabuli would make an impression in 2017 and indeed he has.

    The former NRL winger has six tries in 2017 and his 14 linebreaks sees him second only to the Hurricanes’ Ngani Laumape in that category.

    10: Bernard Foley (Waratahs)

    Concussion has restricted Foley to just two matches in 2017, but in the little game time he’s had the Test playmaker has brought structure and spark to the Waratahs’ miserable campaign.

    9: Joe Powell (Brumbies)

    The rise of Powell continues and a Wallabies jersey seems inevitable for the Brumbies No 9.

    With the exception of a flutter or two against the Highlanders earlier in the month, Powell is a calm head, probes the defensive line, has a good pass, defensively sound and his kicking game is improving all the time.

    8: Scott Higginbotham (Reds)

    The Reds’ pack has been pretty ordinary this year, but Higginbotham is an exception.

    A ball playing backrower, Higginbotham finds the try-line more than most and is very useful at the lineout and back of the scrum.

    Will we get to see him wearing gold?

    Unfortunately he’s never strung strong performances back to back for the national team, but with David Pocock away for the year it would be great to see him given one more chance.

    7: Michael Hooper (Waratahs)

    The flanker has been the Waratahs’ best player throughout the first half of the season.

    Hooper wears his heart on his sleeve and leaves nothing out on the field.

    Colby Fainga’a and Chris Alcock are having very good seasons, but Hooper – without Pocock and Liam Gill on the scene – is your clear No 7.

    6: Scott Fardy (Brumbies)

    The heart and soul of the Brumbies, Fardy is back to his best in 2017.

    Fardy was below his best last year, with a taxing World Cup year clearly catching up on him.

    But the blindside flanker looks revitalised this season and is one of the best in the business across the field and at the set-piece.

    It’s a shame Fardy is heading to Ireland at season’s end, but the development of Ned Hanigan and Isi Naisarani is a positive sign for the future.

    5: Matt Philip (Force)

    There were deep concerns when Adam Coleman went down earlier in the year, but Philip has been fantastic in his debut season.

    A great lineout operator, Philip is also useful across the field and often gets over the advantage line.

    4: Rory Arnold (Brumbies)

    After making his Test debut last season, there have been no second year blues for Arnold who has been one of the most impressive players this year running around in Australian rugby.

    His performance two weeks ago against the Reds was world class.

    3: Allan Alaalatoa (Brumbies)

    With Sekope Kepu not getting any younger, Alaalatoa’s development is one of the more pleasing things in Australian rugby at the moment.

    For a team to be successful the scrum needs to be strong and set the foundation, thankfully Alaalatoa is doing just that

    2: Tolu Latu (Waratahs)

    It’ll be fascinating to see what role Latu plays in 2017 for the Wallabies because he’s been by far and away Australia’s best in the hooking position thus far this season.

    It’s more likely he’ll earn a bench role given Moore is the captain and incumbent, but it wouldn’t surprise if by year’s end he’s made the role his own.

    Very good around the field and over the ball, Latu’s set-piece is getting better by the day and ultimately that is what a hooker is selected for.

    1: Scott Sio (Brumbies)

    Missed the opening month because of injury, but has been in good form since returning.

    One of the best scrummagers running around, Sio will once again wear the No 1 jersey come June.

    16: Robbie Abel (Brumbies)

    It’s hard to comprehend how the Force let Abel go, but the Brumbies hooker has quickly made an impression.

    In just his second season of Super Rugby, the 27-year-old has gone from third-string hooker last year to starting rake in 2017 after the departure of Moore and injury to Josh Mann-Rea.

    Abel’s set-piece is very good and he’s often finding a way, particular at the back of the rolling maul, to get on the scoreboard.

    17: Ben Daley (Force)

    Injuries have slowed his progress over the past few seasons, but Daley is a new man at the Force since leaving the Reds.

    The loose-head held up the scrum very well for the Force across the ditch earlier this month when the Force had difficult matches against the Crusaders and Blues.

    18: Sekope Kepu (Waratahs)

    A rock at the scrum, Kepu remains one of the best scrummagers in Australia but he’s got to eradicate the silly infringements from his game.

    19: Ned Hanigan (Waratahs)

    Capable of playing in the second-row and at blindside flanker, Hanigan rips in and very handy across the field.

    20: Isi Naisarani (Force)

    Jarrad Butler has been impressive for the Brumbies, but for his explosiveness Naisarani has been picked.

    He’s raw, but Naisarani has a world of potential and is the best young new talent in Australian rugby.

    Naisarani can play at either blindside or No 8.

    21: Jake Gordon (Waratahs)

    Isn’t it refreshing to see a scrum-half who is prepared to run the ball?

    22: Quade Cooper (Reds)

    Cooper’s match against the Kings on Saturday was one his most complete performances since 2011.

    Sure he missed three matches for a high shot (which was a bit hard, but considering his record fair enough), but he’s still got plenty to offer.

    23: Dane Haylett-Petty (Force)

    It was impossible to leave Haylett-Petty out of the team altogether.

    Likely to start ahead of Hunt, but on the wing given Israel Folau has a mortgage on the No 15 jersey for the Wallabies.
    Great to see the second most over-rated player in World Rugby not get picked. Folau is the perfect example of how the ARU can save money - stop paying him too much.

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  8. #428
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    Merging the Brumbies with another team has always been the best solution. They have a great history but not for the future of Aus rugby.
    The Brumbies were the first super team I supported, but it makes sense to merge them, and the Rebels would work best.
    They could then play home games in Melbourne and Canberra.
    The AFL teams do it, so it works.
    Merging the Force and Brumbies, the travel time would be too much for home games in Canberra and Perth

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  9. #429
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    Quote Originally Posted by eleypinkbit View Post
    Merging the Brumbies with another team has always been the best solution. They have a great history but not for the future of Aus rugby.
    The Brumbies were the first super team I supported, but it makes sense to merge them, and the Rebels would work best.
    They could then play home games in Melbourne and Canberra.
    The AFL teams do it, so it works.
    Merging the Force and Brumbies, the travel time would be too much for home games in Canberra and Perth
    Seem logical and sensible. It's the last thing the ARU will do then.

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  10. #430
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    The Brumbels could have as their new emblem a prune wrapped in bacon. (Rebels on horseback!)

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  11. #431
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    Quote Originally Posted by James View Post
    Woodonga? They could be called the Dongas. Woodonga Dongas.
    The "Wangaratta Blowflies" has a certain ring to it. Seem to remember there was a lot of them there and this whole saga stinks.

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    I am really a Palmyra troll.

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    Quote Originally Posted by GIGS20 View Post
    Well, something has to give. If force rebels and brumbies all insist on everything staying in its current form, then the ARU will simply need to kill the one that's the least hassle. Since we are the one that they went to London with an intention to kill, I'd suggest we started on the back foot.

    The writ has helped to change that, but we'd need to have a buttload of ammo to win the war
    Their problem is that all the big talk about "killing" a team has blown up in their faces. The position they actually seem to have got themselves into is negotiating until they find someone prepared to go.

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    Quote Originally Posted by AndyS View Post
    Their problem is that all the big talk about "killing" a team has blown up in their faces. The position they actually seem to have got themselves into is negotiating until they find someone prepared to go.
    Yep, because of everything that has happened in the last week, the ARU would likely to have gone back to the drawing board to actually work out what it can do. Rather than keep on the same pathway to the brickwall.

    It may actually be telling SANZAAR that it can't for financial reasons eliminate any team and that the proposed reduction in teams is scrapped.

    Its not unprecedented that a sports league goes back on a decision when things change.

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    I thought the bit about Isi Naisarani Having "a world of potential" and "the best new young talent around in SR" was interesting. I commented that he might not be playing without the Force being here and how many future Isi's would be missed without the Force providing the pathway for players

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  15. #435
    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    This is interesting:

    On phone, pasting links is dodgy.

    http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/spo...9755ac87c7dfbd


    Quartet of powerbrokers trying to rescue Western Force from Super Rugby cull
    JAMIE PANDARAM, The Daily Telegraph
    April 17, 2017 5:40pm
    A GROUP of heavyweight rugby identities and millionaire businessmen are plotting to save the Western Force from Super Rugby oblivion.


    The “big four” behind the campaign can today be revealed by the Daily Telegraph, and include former ARU chief executive Gary Flowers and the Force’s inaugural chief Peter O’Meara.


    Alongside them are highly successful businessmen Jon Collins, himself a former ARU and Waratahs director, and ground signage guru Raymond Burke, who has pledged to pump $50 million into the Force over the next 10 years if he can strike a deal with the West Australian government.


    Flowers, O’Meara and Collins have all purchased shares in the Own The Force campaign, which insiders say has pledges of $8 million.




    Former ARU boss Gary Flowers is one of quarter of rugby powerbrokers seeking to save the Western Force from being culled from Super Rugby.
    “This idea of community ownership is worth exploring, and Perth is a unique market compared to Queensland and NSW because of the connection to the community,” O’Meara said.


    “We’ve all been involved in rugby for a long time and we are right behind this - are we all silly?”


    Burke, who co-owns New Zealand’s Highlanders franchise, had a proposal to take over the ground signage and ticketing at Force’s home ground nib Stadium rejected by the previous WA government, but it has been resubmitted.


    “We are not asking for any money from the government, we’re just asking for assets that we will turn around and invest into the Western Force, and I guarantee that if they give us the support the Force will win a premiership in five years like the Highlanders did,” Burke said.


    While that proposal is being reviewed by the government in Perth, the Force still has significant financial support flowing through.


    Collins, who sold his Sykes Group business in 2010 for $55 million, has not ruled out a private ownership bid of the club depending on the outcome of the legal writ the franchise has taken out against the ARU.


    “The Own The Force campaign is a great initiative, I will be investing in it, and then I will be talking further to Peter [O’Meara] about what we can do once the legal action put in place has been resolved,” Collins said.


    “I was an ARU director from 2002-04 and we looked in detail at the two proposals from Perth and Victoria when we were introducing a new team, it was a resounding ‘yes’ for Perth to get the next Super Rugby side.


    “While they haven’t had success in winning the competition, there has been great success in junior development and grassroots enthusiasm.


    “Western Australian fans will feel as though they’ve been led down the garden path with what’s happened at the ARU over the past four months.”


    The ARU announced last Monday that either the Force or Melbourne Rebels will axed from the tournament.




    Flowers, who was running Australian rugby when the Force were introduced to Super Rugby in 2005, said it was imperative to see them remain in a rejigged 15-team tournament from next year.


    “Rugby can legitimately become the No.2 code in Western Australia [behind AFL], in Melbourne AFL is clearly No.1, then there is massive support for football, and then you’ve got the Storm who are very entrenched in the city,” Flowers said.


    “It is a tough job that the ARU have, one of the things I’m not sure has been done is an assessment of the impact of cutting a team.


    “It’s very well to say there’s a risk in keeping the same format, but what about the damage of losing a team.”


    Crowds across the SANZAAR board have been down since it was announced that three teams, including two from South Africa, would soon be axed.

    2 Not allowed! Not allowed!
    Last edited by travelling_gerry; 17-04-17 at 19:05.

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