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Thread: The $20 million deal that punted the Western Force out of Super Rugby

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    The $20 million deal that punted the Western Force out of Super Rugby

    The $20 million deal that punted the Western Force out of Super Rugby

    Roy Masters


    A $20 million package from the Victorian government to the ARU, securing Bledisloe Cup and British and Irish Lions Test matches in Melbourne over an eight-to-10-year period, guaranteed the future of the Rebels in the SANZAAR competition.

    The protracted negotiations between the Victorian government and the ARU, where approximately one-quarter of the funding will pass to the Rebels, ensured the Melbourne team would always be chosen by the ARU, ahead of Perth's Western Force, as the Australian team to be retained in the SANZAAR competition.

    No top international team comes to an Australian capital city without some investment from a state government, meaning the withdrawal of funding from the Victorian government would have entrenched rugby union forever as the fourth football code in the country.

    The financial package was secured by Premier Daniel Andrews, Treasurer Tim Pallas and Sports Minister John Eren.

    Pallas, who was largely instrumental in building AAMI Park, Melbourne's rectangular facility used by the Storm, Rebels and A-League teams, Victory and City, was determined to retain the city's reputation as the sporting capital of Australia.

    The money stays in the state, with a development centre and rectangular fields for junior teams built in conjunction with La Trobe University.

    The Rebels survival is also a victory for a small group of Melbourne men who were attracted to the game via their sons playing rugby.

    The group, led by VRU president Tim North SC, approached long-term benefactors for funds to purchase the Rebels licence from holder, Melbourne businessman, Andrew Cox.

    When Cox, disappointed by the Rebels' on-field performance and stressed by some of his other investments, was satisfied with his exit package, he then sold the licence for a debt-free club to the VRU for $1.

    The timing, along with the ARU's need to invest in grassroots and its near bankruptcy, together with its commitment to SANZAAR to cull an Australian team, was therefore a perfect storm for the Melbourne group to get their game back.

    But not so perfect for the Storm who continue to have a professional rugby rival in the Victorian capital.

    The ARU's claim to have been blindsided by the news of the sale of the Rebels to the VRU is also at odds with the documentation around the licence.

    The ARU signed off on the option for the sale of the club to the VRU and had effectively already consented to the transaction.

    Furthermore, because the Rebels were never in breach of the licence, particularly in a financial sense, they could never be legally stripped of it.

    While the licence holder is Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union Limited, the company is owned by the VRU.

    This, therefore, guarantees two votes at ARU board meetings – one for the Rebels and another for the VRU.

    Previously, West Australian-based board member Geoff Stooke, represented the non-traditional rugby union states at meetings.

    Compared to the A-League, where clubs are demanding representation on the FFA board, North and his allies have further consolidated victory.

    Sadly, for the Western Force, it is the only team left in the cold from the SANZAAR restructure from 18 teams to 15.

    The two South African teams culled have joined a European competition of 12 other teams from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy, now called Pro 14.

    The Victorian government was also aware the Melbourne Rebels were strategically named, the only SANZAAR team to insist a geographical place name be included in their title.

    While NSW fans know the Waratahs are based in Sydney, who can recite the homes of the Sharks, Blues, Chiefs, Highlanders?

    The massive uplift in broadcasting revenue that led SANZAAR to over expand to 18, bringing in teams from Japan and Argentina, was reflected in the big audiences in England and Europe watching southern hemisphere games.

    But viewers could only be certain of the home of one team, the Melbourne Rebels, a clear winner for Visit Victoria.

    It is now the VRU's responsibility to ensure their team, which won a single game in the 2017 season, remains financially viable and competitive.

    The club received an initial $6m investment from the ARU when they were invited to participate in the 2011 season, a further $8m from previous owner, Harold Mitchell, and Cox's contribution.

    It is the ARU's responsibility to honour its commitment to schedule top international matches in Melbourne and win back the capacity MCG crowds of the late 1990s.

    http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...16-gxxde5.html

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    Veteran BLR's Avatar
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    Absolute grubs.

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    The ARU sold us out for $2 million a year from Victoria. Own the Force would've injected half of that amount of $20 million in one year. Both clubs could have been saved. And to say that the Melbourne Rebels name is more valuable commercially because for some reason in this day of the internt, people can't google where a team is from, what utter, utter crap. Very angry right now.

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    Last edited by Kalahard; 16-08-17 at 19:42.

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    Veteran BLR's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kalahard View Post
    The ARU sold us out for $2 million a year from Victoria. Own the Force would've injected half of that amount of $20 million in one year. Both clubs could have been saved. What a fucking hopeless cunt Cameron Clyne is. Very angry right now.
    I view the ARU as a petulant child, at the beginning of the process they went 'I want that one!' and despite anything else stayed the course until they got what their way.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kalahard View Post
    The $20 million deal that punted the Western Force out of Super Rugby

    Roy Masters

    http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...16-gxxde5.html
    Blindsided.
    Outmanoeuvred.
    Sucker-punched.

    It figures ...

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    Quote Originally Posted by BLR View Post
    I view the ARU as a petulant child, at the beginning of the process they went 'I want that one!' and despite anything else stayed the course until they got what their way.
    This article proves what we already know, the ARU have wrecked WA rugby for no reason except they value the name Melbourne over Perth producing playing depth and future Wallabies with the backing of a government and a billionaire.

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    So a few men decided to save the club because there kids play rugby at school!! WTF! Listening to Brendan cannon the fact they were saved didn't even make the radio over there. I just can't believe this BS!!

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    Immortal jargan83's Avatar
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    I have no words.

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    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
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    I have. It ain't over yet.

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    "The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David


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    Lets bankrupt the bastards.

    The nib test on 9 sept needs to be a financial disaster.

    I understand theres a test match coming up this weekend sometime. Not even going to check the time of the game as my relationship and everything who represents them is over. Definitely watched my last wallabies match.

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    Roy Masters thinks he has a scoop, he doesn't, he is only pouring petrol on the fire.

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    Veteran BLR's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kalahard View Post
    Roy Masters thinks he has a scoop, he doesn't, he is only pouring petrol on the fire.
    If the Force arise from that fire like a phoenix, pour away.

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    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kalahard View Post
    Roy Masters thinks he has a scoop, he doesn't, he is only pouring petrol on the fire.
    Roy has told us why they did what they did. It's a scoop from where I'm looking. No other Journo has published all that stuff AFAIK. Now if he could get his brother to find where the brown papar bags ended up that would be even better.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kalahard View Post
    The ARU sold us out for $2 million a year from Victoria.
    Correction: $1.5 million as a quarter goes back to the Rebels.

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    Immortal Contributor jono's Avatar
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    *reads article*

    *twitches*

    I was *ALMOST* below white hot fury... Until i read this.
    My punching bag is going to cop another savage beating.

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