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Nick Taylor
Wednesday, 19 April 2017 10:59AM
Former Western Force chief executive Peter O’Meara has questioned the independence of a top Australian Rugby Union executive involved in the process to cull a team from Super Rugby.
He has queried whether chief operations officer Rob Clarke should be involved.
Clarke is a former chief executive of both the Melbourne Rebels and the ACT Brumbies.
The Rebels and Force are struggling to avoid the axe.
O’Meara, the inaugural Force chief executive, also questioned the evaluation process being used by the ARU to decide which club to axe.
The ARU said it had no comment. Clarke was contacted for comment.
O’Meara is at the centre of a syndicate plotting to save the struggling Force with an injection of $50 million.
“From a corporate governance perspective there are things I am hearing and seeing about the ARU process that are disturbing,” O’Meara said.
“You have a senior executive in Rob Clarke, a former chief executive of both the Brumbies and Rebels, who has been at the forefront of negotiations to drop a team. My concern is whether his recommendations are totally independent given his (former) close affiliation and background with the two rugby franchises and, according to a Rebels press release, at no stage had the national body even hinted that the Rebels were in danger and was contrary to advice provided by ARU management.
“The rugby public should simply ask that the evaluation process be transparent and defendable.”
Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said he knew little of the plan by O’Meara, former ARU chief executive Gary Flowers, former ARU and Waratahs director Jon Collins and ground sign provider Raymond Burke.
“We have not been part of any discussions. We understand they have been held with the Government,” Sinderberry said.
“They sound like interesting long-term possibilities but what is important is that we remain 100 per cent committed to the community ownership Own the Force model.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/aru-exe...-ng-b88449310z
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Rob Clarkes involvement in this saga deserves high scrutiny. As does the "leaking" of information to Pandaram.
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/02...ing-operations
I can't access Linkedin for his profile. If someone can, can you please share it here.
SO its OK to leak information when it suits them. But when a journalist that they use, asks them a real question they shut up.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
The leaks have come from Fox Sports & News Ltd. The whole process only begun after they (News/Fox) agreed to keep paying the current fees if the ARU dropped one franchise - specifically the Force, Fox/News want them gone to save them $.
Fox/News are just as involved in this process as are the ARU exec - remember the ARU exec have stated (when quizzed why they agreed to expand to 18 teams when the sport financials where so dire) they only now have the option the cut a franchise because the broadcasters (Fox/News) has agreed.
So they ARU have only two options to make, leave the comp as it is (which they passed on at the sanzaar meet) or cut the Force - because that's what Fox/News will allow.
It's a little more tenuous but Cameron Clyne represented Victoria in rugby as well.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...e1d0c8085179d2"Clyne has had a lifelong involvement in rugby, playing for Victoria against both the touring All Blacks and Springboks."
The broadcasters only agreed after the ARU told them "pressure had been applied". Foxsports agreed to keep the Force then were told another scenario by the ARU that Foxsports bowed to.
http://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_...ugby-franchise
Also, Fox/News Ltd are not the only leakers of information here. That 2 prominent Sydney journalists are reporting about secret ARU documents, not secret Fox/News Ltd documents, proves this.
Sounds like a bit internal politics at the ARU may be the case, all trying to push their own barrows and the leaks perhaps a way to help their own causes.
Perhaps Mr Clarke wants Bill's job, he certainly has done just about all but to this point.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
If that the case re Fox why didn't the ARU just say Force is gone that awful Sunday. I can't imagine they included the rebels to make it less brutal could they? I am not sure that is a consideration for them.. They could have said that it was after pressure from Fox then blame them and come out of this schmoozel looking less incompetent!!
Regardless of what pressures they were under, they should all resign in shame except G.Stooke
Last edited by yungfen; 19-04-17 at 14:30.