ARU ponders Super Japanese option

[AndyS]

Yeah, right, SANZAR just gave a fifth license for the ARU to auction off...you don't think the stance will be use it or lose it - "Base the team in Australia or we'll think again, but we didn't give it to Australia to be flying to Tokyo".

[TOCC]

Yeah, right, SANZAR just gave a fifth license for the ARU to auction off...you don't think the stance will be use it or lose it - "Base the team in Australia or we'll think again, but we didn't give it to Australia to be flying to Tokyo".

well there could also be legal issues involved, they might have no ground to stand on when it comes to preventing the ARU from on-selling it.

At the end of the day, even if it Aus does sell it, NZ and RSA might be a bit bitter about it but it does offer them the chance to make more money as well. It gives them greater exposure in the Japanese market as well, its no like they are actually losing anything except a longer flight.

[waratahjesus]

it would make the whole competition more money wouldnt it?
i assume they would do this in consultation with sanzar so when they sell the broadcast rights, there is an extra couple of billion people able to watch the games!

[TOCC]

it would make the whole competition more money wouldnt it?
i assume they would do this in consultation with sanzar so when they sell the broadcast rights, there is an extra couple of billion people able to watch the games!

yes it would make the whole competition more money, it would also depend on whether they sell the broadcast rights for Japan to news corp at the time of the deal or hold out and try and sell it on themselves.

[jono]

if they sell one franchise i can see it as a precednt.
SANZAR shouldnt allow it.

[jargan83]

too right, the ARU might follow it up by selling the Waratahs franchise to the US
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[jono]

or the force to melb. seeing as the govt didnt come through on its promise to build a stadium...

[force addict]

jono that better not be true
if it does it will cause major upheaval

[jargan83]

or the force to melb. seeing as the govt didnt come through on its promise to build a stadium...

I don't see how the ARU would need a precedent of selling a franchise to Japan for that most horrible possibilty to occur.
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[jono]

if melb continues to beg and plead for a super team. the ARU could say "well, we sold one to japan. why not give melb one as wel and make a lot more money"
and let's face it. the other 3 teams have to facilities to properly support a rugby union team. perth does not. melbourne does

[force addict]

Melbourne doesn't need another team sport! they have plenty of AFL games and NRL they don't need Super14 too

[jargan83]

yes, but in theory the ARU has the franchise they can do what they want with it now. If they were to take the Force to Melbourne though it would effectively kill the hard work done to promote and raise the profile of the game in Perth. Would Rugby in WA have seen the growth that it has seen in the past few years with out the Force? Surely not even the ARU would be stupid enough to do something like that. If they did I would never go to a Wallabies test in Perth again.

However I don't actually see how taking the Force to Melbourne would make the ARU more money. Lets face it, the Force aren't exactly struggling for corporate support
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[jargan83]

Melbourne doesn't need another team sport! they have plenty of AFL games and NRL they don't need Super14 too

Based on? Sure a few of the AFL teams there are struggling but i'm sure a few companies over there wouldn't mind jumping on an International sport with International coverage?
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[TOCC]

there is no way the ARU would move the Force to Melbourne, like someone said they have good corporate support over there. If anything the Brumbies are the ones who should be worried, they have little to no corporate support in Canberra and they arent supported very well either. The ARU could get more value for money by moving the Brumbies to Melbourne.

Realistically, Australia cant handle a 5th Super team yet, we dont have the depth to support it, maybe in another few years but not quite yet. The creation of the Force decimated QLD and hurt the other two states, and QLD are only just starting to recover from that, its at least another 2-3 years before we can realistically create a 5th team.

Unless they throw open the doors to even more foreign players, like increase the quota to 5 foregn stars or something like that.

[jargan83]

i saw the creation of the Force as short term pain for long term gain for Australian Rugby. I don't think that Australia has the depth to support a 5th side either.

Depends on what the ARU wants, do they want to improve the depth of Australian Rugby or get a quick paycheck
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