Western Force face battle to keep $1.5 million major sponsor

Western Force are not only in a fight to the death with the Melbourne Rebels over their future in Super Rugby.

The embattled Perth club is in danger of losing a sponsorship deal hailed as the best Australian club rugby had seen.

The Force enjoy a $1.5 million sponsorship from Western Australia's Road Safety Commission this season, but an RSC spokesperson confirmed on Thursday that the Road Trauma Trust Account would evaluate the deal before deciding whether to continue.

Force bosses are talking down any fears of a cutback, suggesting that the club is aiming to start fresh talks on extending the deal.

But the contract faces even stiffer opposition from the WA Police Union, which wants the deal to be scrapped completely.

The Force and the Rebels are under massive pressure after the Australian Rugby Union announced that one of the franchises would be axed as a result of Super Rugby's plans to downsize the competition to 15 teams next season.

While the Rebels are privately owned and led by managing director Andrew Cox, the ARU still owns the Force's licence while Rugby WA runs the franchise, so losing the major sponsor would be a significant blow.

The Force received the sponsorship on January 31, just a day before the WA election campaign started, with the deal for one year with contract extensions possible. As part of the deal Force players were required to do 1200 hours work promoting the RSC.

But the WA government changed and in March newly appointed Police Minister Michelle Roberts threatened to review the sponsorship or withhold payments after the ARU's plans to cut one of the Australian teams were announced.

Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said the sponsorship was meeting all its benchmarks.

"Things are travelling very well on the road safety sponsorship and payments have been made on time as per our agreement and we will start to look at extending that agreement in the future," Sinderberry said.

The RSC was unable to answer all questions put to it by The Age on Thursday but an RSC spokesperson said it reviewed all projects throughout the life of the deal.

"As with all major projects and partnerships which are funded through the Road Trauma Trust Account, the Road Safety Commission will undertake a robust evaluation of the 12-month partnership to gauge the impact of the program on road safety outcomes prior to making a decision going forward," the spokesperson said.

WA Police Union president George Tilbury called the sponsorship wasteful.

"WAPU seriously hopes the sponsorship arrangement in its current format is not continued next year," Tilbury said.

"Any sponsorship deal to target road safety would need to be done in conjunction with police and involve extensive community engagement. WAPU may consider its position if these conditions were met.

"We strongly believe that 1200 hours of highly visible police patrols on our roads, particularly in regional WA, will have a much greater impact than names on a guernsey or videos on social media."

http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-union...25-gwd9ut.html

Roy Ward

Hmm..curious it hit the Melbourne Age before the local rag

the WA Police Union have their own agenda

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Originally Posted by andrewM

Hmm..curious it hit the Melbourne Age before the local rag

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There's actually nothing new here I don't think.

Well that's depressing reading!!

Roy Ward, Melbourne Age journalist who has been posting pro rebels material on rugby heaven for the past few months.

I think I'll take Mark Sinderberry's word over some Victorian hack writing for a Melbourne newspaper.

Any sponsorship arrangement is going to be regularly evaluated by the sponsor. It would be extremely naive to think otherwise, especially where public money is involved.

Nothing alarming here. Let's move on.

The Road Safety Commission becomes a part of the WA Police on July 1 so that's probably where the Police opposition to the deal may bite.

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Originally Posted by jargan83

The Road Safety Commission becomes a part of the WA Police on July 1 so that's probably where the Police opposition to the deal may bite.

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Its the police union, not the police management.Its my understanding that management in almost all industries oppose anything the union says regardless of how much sense it may or may not make

Quote:

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"We strongly believe that 1200 hours of highly visible police patrols on our roads, particularly in regional WA, will have a much greater impact than names on a guernsey or videos on social media."

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So I guess the WAPU spokespeople really do have no idea ... !

This is LAZY journalism. A complete hatchet job re-reporting something as new and without context, up to date quotes or clarification.



Was reported BEFORE the state election as the opposition (now government) were looking to score political points by suggesting the then gov were buying votes with a last minute sweetheart deal.

The now gov has already declared they will continue that sponsorship and sum in demanding Force remain - ironically for the same reason (votes)

Good to hear.

Also, there was no reporting in that crap that the deal was actually signed for 3 (might have been 4) years.

A legal agreement called contract - I know that when it comes to rugby some (in the east) don't quite understand that concept means you're obligated (like an alignment agreement/contract).....

Why bother supporting or doing anything to advance the artistic, sporting, educational or cultural standards and values of the state.

Just pour all the States finances into purchasing more bicycles for police officers to cycle around on in Northbridge of a balmy evening ...

Correct an absolute beat up. Labor, when in opposition, said they were likely to review it - vote scoring - and now in power have asked Treasury to look at it - more vote scoring.
That has all been reported.
The deal has a three year renewal option so I'm not sure if it is completely locked in for that period. I guess if the Force keep up their end of the deal it rolls over under the contract.
You can imagine the call.
Cox: "Roy, Coxy here. Mate you haven't stuck the knife into the Force this week. I've got an idea."
Ward: "Yassir Mr Cox!"