Western Force launch legal action in fight over Super Rugby future

[.X.]

We may not find out anything until next Wednesday, which is when SANZAAR meet again in Tokyo. Surely the ARU will have to spill the beans at the meeting as to their current position and how they are dealing with all that has transpired since the last meeting in London.

Why would the ARU "spill the beans" now - their lack of transparency is what got them in trouble in the first place.

[GIGS20]

We may not find out anything until next Wednesday, which is when SANZAAR meet again in Tokyo. Surely the ARU will have to spill the beans at the meeting as to their current position and how they are dealing with all that has transpired since the last meeting in London.

They would surely have to spill the beans to SANZAAR, but that doesn't mean any of us will hear about it.

I think they'll be doing everything they can to avoid mentioning the fact that they've done nothing in response to one team launching legal action and the other team threatening the same thing.

I also think they'll tell SANZAAR that the Force is the team they want to cut, despite all evidence pointing to the fact that their power to actually do the deed is at best limited and expensive and at worst impossible. SANZAAR will probably accept that the ARU have everything under control, because it's an equal partnership and none of the other partners give a stuff who goes, or how much it costs the knobs at the ARU.

[AndyS]

What they are likely to come away from Tokyo with is a deadline from Sanzar...

[MI5_Dog]

Melbourne Rebels centre Tom English says the Australian Rugby Union needs to make a call on the future of his Super Rugby side.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2...er-future-call
Frustrated Melbourne Rebels back Tom English says it's time for the Australian Rugby Union to "rip the band aid off" and make a decision on the future of his Super Rugby club.

The Rebels and the Western Force have been in limbo for almost a month following the ARU's announcement that one of the clubs would be cut from the 2018 competition.

Both sides have declared the national body has no legal right to remove the teams and have threatened legal action.

Competition organiser SANZAAR has an executive meeting on May 10 however there are no signs a decision on the axed team will be made by then.

Ahead of their Saturday afternoon clash with the Lions at AAMI Park, English said the Rebels had been assured of their future by owner Andrew Cox but he wanted the ARU to make a call one way or the other.

"Your job as a professional player first and foremost is to focus on the game but that's not to say that it doesn't play on your mind," English said.

"The ARU needs to come out and make a decision because they're playing with people's lives so rip the band aid off because indecision is just going to lead to more players leaving to play overseas."

English, who is signed to Melbourne until the end of 2018, said he believed more Rebels players were looking at overseas clubs so they had a "back-up plan."

Rebels' general manager of football operations Baden Stephenson said while it was unsettling for off-contract players they were trying to keep it business as usual at the club, despite a signing freeze from the ARU.

"We're still trying to lock guys in for 2018 and beyond," Stephenson said.

"I've got a couple who have agreed to terms both internal and external who have signed contracts and we're waiting for the ARU to co-sign them when they lift the moratorium."

Stephenson predicted that even when the decision was made it wouldn't be the end of it.

"I'd be surprised if and when a decision is made that the next step isn't some sort of legal issue and the same things are being said in South Africa as well," he said.

[jargan83]

What they are likely to come away from Tokyo with is a deadline from Sanzar...

Given that planning for next year will have to start soonish (Fixture, travel plans etc) you would think something like a deadline could be on the cards.

[travelling_gerry]

What they are likely to come away from Tokyo with is a deadline from Sanzar...

Or an Announcement about when they will announce the outcome.

[GIGS20]

Or an Announcement about when they will announce the outcome.

I think that one's far more likely

They'll probably try to peddle the 48-72 hours line again

[agrugger]

SANZAAR will probably accept that the ARU have everything under control, because it's an equal partnership and none of the other partners give a stuff who goes, or how much it costs the knobs at the ARU.

I don't think it's that cut and dry. If the ARU gets caught in a legal battle in which they can't drop a team, then SA surely wouldn't still drop 2 to where there is a 16 team comp.

Everyone says SA dominates SANZAAR, but why would they agree to dropping 2? It is a very interesting organisation that I don't understand the leadership or strategy (or lack there of) at all.

[valzc]

We may not find out anything until next Wednesday, which is when SANZAAR meet again in Tokyo. Surely the ARU will have to spill the beans at the meeting as to their current position and how they are dealing with all that has transpired since the last meeting in London.

Hard to see how SANZAR can even be unaware of what's been going on with the ARU. They're bound to be up to date through everything in the press and social media. ARU are going to have to fess up to a fair few shenanigans with a "Please explain" at that meeting -oh to be a fly on the wall!

[WFDom]

Maybe that's why Pulver's not been seen in public since the press conference.... recovering from his spinal implant in time for the SANZAAR meeting

[Transiting]

The Force need to 'sign' a player who will warrant an ARU top up! A public announcement of a player of such stature who wants to sign with the Force will be of major PR significance! Who might be on the list?

[.X.]

Maybe that's why Pulver's not been seen in public since the press conference.... recovering from his spinal implant in time for the SANZAAR meeting

I wouldnt mind betting on Pulver getting a job with SANZAAR once all this is done. He was so quick to dump Aus Rugby in to the shitter. There has to be some incentive for him.....

[Ralto]

the ARU will have to spill the beans at the meeting as to their current position and how they are dealing with all that has transpired since the last meeting in London.

I would love to hear how "Peter the Phantom Pulver" is going to explain this. He should walk in with Michael Scott and David Brent as his wingmen

[JPR]

The Force need to 'sign' a player who will warrant an ARU top up! A public announcement of a player of such stature who wants to sign with the Force will be of major PR significance! Who might be on the list?

The player that Cheika wants is Richard Hardwick. According to the Western Force Line Break 2017 season guide he is to sign his first full contract with the western force in October.(Hopefully this October 2017.)

[wallabydarnd]

Abc radio R N sports Warwick hadfield this morning reporting rumours last few days of brumbies rebels mergertalks