Arbitration hearing - Western Force v ARU - 31.07.2017

[blueandblack]

B&B; with Kerry Stokes now on board OTF do you think maybe you signature needs a little editing?

I shall work on this. Does need an update....


edit: How about this movie reference one?

[shasta]

I shall work on this. Does need an update....


edit: How about this movie reference one?

[wallabydarnd]

Kerry Stokes has now come in to back the Force, Yay! The powers that be are coming out to support! Twiggy's been pulling some strings! Thank you god!

With a second billionaire on board we can just about afford the QC for court next week!

[The InnFORCEr]

All we need now is Gina to "Get on Board"

[Jules]

With a second billionaire on board we can just about afford the QC for court next week!

Can you point me in the direction of the story on this?

[blueandblack]

Can you point me in the direction of the story on this?

http://nedlandsrugby.com.au/2017/08/...er-rugby-saga/

[wallabydarnd]

http://nedlandsrugby.com.au/2017/08/...er-rugby-saga/

Reading that article suggests he is supportive but not on board as such

[shasta]

All we need now is Gina to "Get on Board"

Yeah we could get a whole new roster of 457 visa holders on $12 an hour. Bargain.

[sack & crac]

I'd be happy to see 7mate start doing some local games on TV like they are doing Shute Shield.

maybe that will keep the brand running and would be a solid contributor to grassroots

[travelling_gerry]

See below a letter by Mitch Hardy to the ARU board.
Great Stuff "Hammer". From the Joondalup Brothers www


To the Board of the Australian rugby Union


through John Eales


It is with regret and sadness I have to sit here and actually write this
letter. Twelve years ago my family and I packed our things and we moved
to Perth . Back then it was to work for RugbyWA and help in the running
of their local competition, develop community programs, get rugby into
schools, club and volunteer management plans and kick start the RugbyWA
academy. There was already a thriving rugby community here and with the
onset of the western force and its launch in 2005 over the last 12 years
has seen the game flourish , expand and grow. I was lucky enough to
have 7 good years working for the WA rugby community as an
administrator, volunteer, coach, referee, high performance leader and
assisted in building this game we all care about into something everyone
was proud of. Since leaving RugbyWA i have continued to support rugby
via coaching , refereeing and volunteering on committees. My sons have
both played since they were 5 and both have represented WA in rugby.
This their home and they both aspire to represent their state and
possibly play for the Western Force. This has been taken away by those
that only look at numbers not the game.


I have always been a servant to the game and those that know me
understand what I am about. I played until I wasn't able to play
retiring at the age of 42 . I have played junior club rugby , Sydney
club rugby, state rugby , super rugby ,for the Wallabies and back to
Sydney club back to Perth club and so on all the while living the true
spirit and values rugby represents.


I have coached many talented young players across this time and shared
stories and great memories with many stalwarts of the game including
Geoff Stooke whom I admire greatly for his attitude towards the game.


My proudest moment was playing for Australia and being able to share the
same turf with absolute legends of the game like yourself all of whom I
respect and admire . I tell my kids all the time about the great players
and what they could do on the field and how they carried themselves in
victory and defeat. It is rare to see these attributes these days , but
there are glimpses. Richard Hardwick is a great example of one who
inspires young players. WA needs these champions as part of the process
to engage kids . WA needs the Western Force and it what it stands for.


I am gutted to say the least at the way the WA rugby community have been
treated. The board of the ARU are not there for the Wallabies they are
there for Rugby and I have to say you have let the game and yourselves
down. You have let me down as a long standing supporter and advocate for
the game.


I and many others worked tirelessly for the game over here, clubs ,
teachers in schools , volunteers and staff at RugbyWA have worked only
to be delivered a killer message and for you to stand by and let this
happens begs disbelief that people I know and respect have not fought
for the game around the board table.


This won't end with a press conference it will drag on for a long time
and the game will be destroyed from within, it will cost millions of
dollars. Sydney club rugby and Brisbane club rugby will probably survive
and the rest will be left to wither and die a slow painful death.


This is the blackest day for rugby I can ever recall and those in other
sports are laughing at us in disgust and bewilderment. You have all
stood a party to this. You underestimate the passion and support for the
game here in WA. Do you really want the ARU tarnished with this brush of
hatred and disgust ?


I am astounded at the lack of empathy for the game in WA and the lack of
any respect towards the WA rugby community and to hear that the game
will be ok with no solution or package offered concerns me greatly .
Where is the funding package that will be in place for the next 3 years
to get the game to 2020?What is the community structure / staff
structure pathways programs financial support that will assist in the
game here? What work has been done on this by the staff at the ARU and
the board ? Nothing has been forthcoming throughout this whole process
as to the future, no vision has been shared or communicated!


The silence by those that sit on the board and the lack of engagement is
disrespectful to say the least. The board needs to get back on the front
foot with this issue and deliver something to the WA community that is
tangible.


I understand the Western Force has not financially performed but RugbyWA
has done more for the game in a short period of time than anyone one of
you could have achieved or dreamed of . You have turned your back on the
game itself. Think about that for a moment .


What happens next is important for us all. I urge you to work with staff
at ARU and RugbyWA levels to ensure there ARE truly strong pathway
programs in place , there IS support for community rugby at development
and competition level, the Western Force IS reinstated and we ALL work
towards a common vision for Australian Rugby.


I am here, there are good people here prepared to work hard for the
game. I suggest you do the same and give some thought and purpose to the
"what next" part of your role .


I am a supporter of the game and will always be but it is wearing very
thin at the moment. If you are close to losing a person like myself how
many others have you already lost and how many more will you lose in the
future.


Yours in rugby


Mitch Hardy
Wallaby #735

[GIGS20]

Onya Mitch, always a gentleman

[shasta]

I'm very, very sorry to see yourself and many other true servants of the Spirit of Rugby feeling this way. Hopefully you will at least get a response other than Mr Eales & Co's auto-replies that everyone else are getting. These people didn't even dignify the Premier of the state with a response.

[Macattack]

Thanks Mitch, you captured the distraught feelings of many WA rugby people very well

[chiraag]

So who was the party from the Force / RugbyWA that actually signed off on the alliance agreement with clause that the Force was guaranteed a license until the end of the current broadcast agreement?
Why would they not ensure this was left with no ambiguity and changed to December 31, 2020?

If it was Mark Sinderberry, then it seems a little suspicious that he is now in the running for the ARU CEO position (and if he doesn't get that will probably have some place in the ARU), and has been agreeing with the reduction to 4 teams throughout the process.
Sorry if I'm completely wrong here and tarnishing a good man's name. Just saying what it looks like to me from the outside.

[yungfen]

Judging how angry/emotional he looked and sounded when the arbitrator's ruling was announced I would be very surprised if that was the case chiraag.