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IIRC, RA loaned the IP back to RugbyWA. So I've always been a little apprehensive of calling the Perth team in the IPRC/WSR the 'Force', as it's still owned by RA and they may try to hold the name for ransom, assuming that Forrest will pay $50 million for it.
Remember, that an IP is apparently worth $1, because that's what the Rebel's was sold for!
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon
IPRC/WSR have that covered because they have Perth Force and Aussie Force.
"12 Years aSupporter" starring the #SeaOfBlue
I heard Twiggy say last week, something along the lines of he wanted to give the Force back to the fans at some point in the future. I cannot remember his exact words.
I thought at the time, that was to overcome the conflict of owning both the WSR and one of the teams playing in the WSR.
I think any share scheme for fans and and others is to provide working capital for the Force going forward, and not to pay Twiggy or RA.
Although technically still own the name Western Force, Minderoo registered the name "Perth Force" about 9 months ago. So if RA play hard ball there is an optional name.
I do not believe Twiggy will ever let the fall over.
Couple of typos above. Should be:
Although technically the RA still own the name Western Force, Minderoo registered the name "Perth Force" about 9 months ago. So if RA play hard ball there is an optional name.
I do not believe Twiggy will ever let the Force fall over.[/QUOTE]
Fulvio,
The ARU cancelled the Force licence and eliminated the Force from the Super Rugby Comp. the ARU had bought the I.P. back in 2016 to bail us out and to work with us being the first cab off the rank to start the CENTRALISED system, hence the Alliance.
ARU won the court cases and then billed RugbyWa for the legal costs so we went into VA. Korda Mentha negotiated with the 3 major parties owed lots of money, WA Govt., Lavan and the ARU, All three wrote off debts so RugbyWA came out of VA.
ARU still owned and still owns the Force I.P. but there was no team.
Minderoo had zero involvement in VA, even though the ARU suggested they pick up the legal debt. You can imagine Andrew's reply.
So, Minderoo decided to start a new comp. and create a new professional team for WA. At one stage, because the ARU agreed to allow RugbyWa to continue in the NRC and RugbyWa owns the Perth Spirit I.P. the new Professional team could have been called the Perth Spirit or any other name in fact.
RugbyWA asked for the Force I.P. back - ARU wanted $850K, we said it was worth $850K back in 2016 when they bought it from us, but now they have trashed it, it is worth $1.00. I think the analogy used was "we sold you a Ferrari, you've pranged it and written it of and you want WHAT for it??"
So, they still have the Force I.P. on their books and have leased it to RugbyWa for $1.00 and RugbyWa in turn have leased it to Minderoo for $1.00 for 99 years or whatever!!!
Since the Force name resonated in WA, Minderoo decided to call their Professional team the Western Force.
Hope this answers your questions.
Last edited by Hansie; 06-08-18 at 17:44. Reason: spelling
Wow!! 99 years.. I almost sprayed my can of coke all over the desk reading that!! Hahaha does that mean if the ARU/RA wanted their IP back tomorrow the answer would be "sorry mate we actually on-leased it for 99 years so its available then" or could they snatch it back like the mongrel thieves they are
Two things.
- Senator Reynolds recommended in her report delivery speech that it will be sold back to Rugby WA for $1 as that was what the Rebels are worth. Meow.
- The RA recommended an Alliance Agreement to the Brumbies without sale of IP. The RA backed off as they realised that the Brumbies were going to make a profit after actually bothering their arses to go to Canberra rather than believe the bullshít written in the Sydney press. The RA using the Force as a test case for centralisation was a misleading pack of lies.
I suggest anyone to read the steaming pile of effluent from Anthony French in Submission 13 from the Inquiry to justify the board to axe a side. There was a lot of bs written about the Brumbies and Force to stitch those sides up with very little written about the constant mismanagement at the Reds and Rebels that the board believed. Very little to nothing mentioned about the unbudgeted funds that the Rebels drained from the RA. I am very surprised that this report wasn't destroyed by the Committee and Anthony French should have been hauled in as a witness on the same night as the disgraced Chairman who has been accused of trying to shut down the Inquiry while in the halls of Parliament.
The difference between the Brumbies and the Force was that the Brumbies have protected themselves from the axe or Sydney press driven relocation/merger from day one.
The debt to the WA Government was NOT written off as part of the VA settlement. The WA Government did, however, agree to extend the period of the loan to Nov 2019. This enabled RWA to exit VA. The debt owed to the WA Government is $1.5million.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Ali, How can RugbyWA owe money to the WA Gov when the ARU owned the Force? They should be the ones paying back the money or the Gov should be suing RA not giving them money!
The debt was incurred before the Alliance Agreement was entered into and was in the name of RWA. Also, the ARU only owned the licence for the Force to operate as a SuperRugby franchise. They did not own the legal entity itself, although the staff and players were all made employees of the ARU and paid by the ARU. It’s also important to note that the Force and RWA were the same legal entity until it exited from VA and Andrew Forrest stepped in to resurrect the Force under his Minderoo umbrella.
I haven’t heard anything further about the WA Government commencing legal action against the ARU. I can only assume there was insufficient evidence to proceed. I guess only the Minister for Sport or the Premier can shed light on that.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
I doubt that Rugby WA will be able to pay off that debt as they don't get an income really