Why Western Force will get through unscathed after coronavirus shutdown
Got past the firewall from a friend.
All I can say is thank you Mr Forrest and FU RA and your mates.
Why Western Force will get through unscathed after coronavirus shutdown
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Wednesday, 1 April 2020 5:26PM
Western Force are the only rugby club likely to get through the coronavirus crisis unscathed — thanks to mining magnate Andrew Forrest who has invested millions in the side and Global Rapid Rugby.
The irony is not lost on Forrest, who offered Rugby Australia $70 million to save the Force when they controversially axed the club and saved the loss-making Melbourne Rebels.
Forrest went alone, resurrected the Force and created GRR but the competition had to be postponed after just one round of its debut season.
Unsubstantiated reports claim Forrest is interested in buying Australia’s four Super Rugby clubs but they are loss-making organisations and it is understood such a move is not in his thinking.
His priority will be GRR, those who stayed loyal or joined the Force and the other teams in the Asia-Pacific based competition.
No Force or GRR staff or players have currently been stood down or asked to take pay cuts but some are on altered duties.
RugbyWA has not made any cuts although some staff are on reduced working hours.
RA’s Super Rugby clubs have all been forced into cutbacks as they try to survive the next three months of the coronavirus pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the sport.
The Rebels were the last club to tell staff they would be stood down or be put on reduced duties.
RA has stood down 75 per cent of its staff in an attempt to reduce losses, which could go as high as $120 million if Super Rugby does not resume this year and all Wallabies Tests are cancelled.
Discussions between RA and the Rugby Union Players' Association on prospective pay cuts for Super Rugby players are continuing this week but they do not involve Western Force players who are affiliated members of the union.
