RugbyWA Media Release - re: "Giteau Bombshell"

[Darren]

RugbyWA wishes to provide greater clarity on information presented in today’s article under the headline ‘Giteau Bombshell’ in the West Australian newspaper.

The article implies that RugbyWA had “facilitated a compromise arrangement” for Matt Giteau to offset his financial loss due to the demise of his personal sponsor Firepower on the condition that he extends his contract with the Emirates Western Force for 2010 and 2011.

While RugbyWA has facilitated, with the permission of the ARU, an arrangement with a company to offset Matt’s losses for 2008 and 2009, it has not been party to any offers made for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

The article also states that “Giteau felt the Force had an obligation to make good on the promises which lured him to Perth”.

RugbyWA wishes to clarify that it has honoured all contractual commitments to Matt and is not responsible for arrangements made between a player and a personal sponsor separate to his contract with the club.

RugbyWA is committed to ensuring the welfare of all its employees and as a responsible employer has assisted Matt to mitigate his financial losses for the period of his current contract with the club, as it did for other players affected by the failure of Firepower, including Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth, Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell.

It is important to note that under ARU contracting protocols, RugbyWA is forbidden to make payments to players to offset the loss of any arrangement with a ‘third party’ or personal sponsor.

RugbyWA CEO Greg Harris said Giteau would remain a key player for the Emirates Western Force in 2009.

“Matt is an extremely valuable member of our team who is adored by the supporters and we’d like to think he’ll honour his commitments with the Emirates Western Force in 2009,” said Harris.

“At this stage we have no indication that Matt wishes to be released from his contract and we are approaching things as business as usual,” he said.

“Obviously Matt is one of finest players in the country and an integral member of our organisation and we’d love to keep him here in Perth well beyond next season.”

[Burgs]

So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

[Happy]

still nervous until he signs, don't leave us Matt

[Thequeerone]

"CYA" sad but necessary

[mudskipper]

Looks like their spoken to the ARU and their lawyers and have jumped into the foxhole...

You can’t have it both ways chaps…“facilitated a compromise arrangement” what, through one of the Forces sponsors ET Mining boss Ross Graham..? Graham was a 20 million dollar shareholder of Firepower or is that a partner at 20 million in? Who knows... Isn't this how the Western Force got in all this trouble in the first place with O’Meara?

Read what I found on the web, Note that Coach Mitchell is on the ET board

Following extract By Noel Dyson form
MiningNewsPremium.net - ET goes tunnelling

The company has also been a staunch supporter of WA Super 14 rugby side The Western Force. While this is likely to prove a handy promotional tool as the company’s eastern states expansion unfolds, it was not the main reason. It turns out that the ET management team – which, it must be said, contains several New Zealanders – are rugby tragics.

Having large photos of Western Force star player Matt Giteau up along Melbourne freeways to promote a Wallabies test does not hurt the marketing cause either.

The company has taken its rugby approach further by adding Western Force coach John Mitchell to its board and making captain Nathan Sharpe an ambassador for its business.

Complicated stuff...

[Swee_82]

Wow... blokes who like rugby and want to expand their business sponsoring a rugby team and rugby players, a game that (presumably) draws alot of people they want to sell/hire their stuff to.

Ground breaking news indeed

[Flamethrower]

Ease up Swee. I bet there are some of those dodgy stinking West Aussies involved.

I heard from a mate who's sister had a drink with a guy who's cousin said that Boards such as this pull the wings off Quokkas.

[robyn <3]

I can hardly see how gits can blame us so much for this. HE signed a dodgy deal firepower. The force weren't to know firepower were hopeless where they! noone forced him to sign a deal. They were the sponser for the force, but he can make other thrid party payments. I'm really dissapointed in him.

I still think he is going to stay. My brain says he is going but my heart reckons he ain't leaving. GITS STAY DAMNIT!

What time will we find out tomorrow? I can start counting down...

[lara93]

i was so frikin scared wen i found this out at skool

[Flamethrower]

Did it scare the spelling out of you???

[Jehna]

Looks like their spoken to the ARU and their lawyers and have jumped into the foxhole...

You can’t have it both ways chaps…“facilitated a compromise arrangement” what, through one of the Forces sponsors ET Mining boss Ross Graham..? Graham was a 20 million dollar shareholder of Firepower or is that a partner at 20 million in? Who knows... Isn't this how the Western Force got in all this trouble in the first place with O’Meara?

Read what I found on the web, Note that Coach Mitchell is on the ET board

Following extract By Noel Dyson form
MiningNewsPremium.net - ET goes tunnelling

The company has also been a staunch supporter of WA Super 14 rugby side The Western Force. While this is likely to prove a handy promotional tool as the company’s eastern states expansion unfolds, it was not the main reason. It turns out that the ET management team – which, it must be said, contains several New Zealanders – are rugby tragics.

Having large photos of Western Force star player Matt Giteau up along Melbourne freeways to promote a Wallabies test does not hurt the marketing cause either.

The company has taken its rugby approach further by adding Western Force coach John Mitchell to its board and making captain Nathan Sharpe an ambassador for its business.

Complicated stuff...

Possibly you're missing the point here Mud? They're not denying that they facilitated a compromise arrangement...the compromise arrangement they speak of is one that allowed Matt to be paid what was owed to him by Firepower but through a different company. There is nothing dodgy about this at all. They had permission from the ARU. What difference does it make that Graham was a shareholder in Firepower? Graham also invested significantly a couple of WA-based companies which distributed Firepower's liquid fuel conditioner products throughout Australia and the Pacific. Are you going to criticise him for that as well? It is hardly surprising that shareholders of a fuel technology company have links with a company who requires and utilises such technology. If you dig further, you'll find that many of the shareholders in Firepower have connections with Mining companies all around the state. It is a lucrative industry with many opportunities can be found given how interdependent many of the industries of the today's world now are.

In fact, as a shareholder, Graham would be suffering the pinch just as much as players who haven't been paid monies under Firepower's contractual obligations. Last time I checked he was chasing $20 million in loans and investments after he unsurprisingly failed to negotiate a settlement with Tim Johnston. I can't see anything dodgy about his own successful company now taking on Giteau's sponsorship. In fact, I'd argue that given his connections with Firepower, and the loss he himself has suffered, it actually explains much of why ET Mining would even agree to fork out thousands of dollars to repair someone else's mistakes, when there is no obligation to do so.

I also see no problem having a management board that is infatuated with rugby. I think you'll find that many of the large sponsors of sporting teams have a personal interest in the game alongside their corporate one. What does it matter that there's happens to be rugby? I can think of worse games for them to throw their money at. And yes, they get huge publicity from it. That is the very point of them agreeing to be sponsors. It's not like they do this out of the kindness of their hearts. Welcome to the corporate world. In fact...welcome to the world. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

[Flamethrower]

[Burgs]

Half of our Board of Directors are Force Members...

[Flamethrower]

What a conflict of interest.
How can we trust them to make decisions that are good for the team??

[travelling_gerry]

GEOFF STOOKE OAM has been the Chairman of RugbyWA since 1988, and in 1999 he was awarded an Order of Australia for services to the game. Geoff is the Managing Director of the Standard Wool Australia Group of Companies. He has held senior management positions in the fishing and resources industries, and was also an officer in the army.

TONY HARVEY has been on the RugbyWA board since 1990. He worked for Ampol and later managed his own service station before moving into real estate. Tony owns and operates a residential real estate and property management business, and has been in the industry for 18 years.

TERRY BRADBURY has been on the RugbyWA board in one capacity or another (including Chairman) since 1976. He worked as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse before moving into the property development business.

STEVE FINK worked for computer giant IBM for 35 years before leaving the company in 2002 to become an industry consultant, specialising in high-end technology and hardware sales.

DAVID REDPATH is the Business Manager for the Australian Government Solicitor in Perth. He worked with the Federal Attorney-General’s Department for more than 30 years in a variety of senior management positions. David has served on the Board of RugbyWA since 1990.

CHARLES FEAR is Executive Chairman of Perth based investment bank Argonaut. He has had extensive experience in advising on Mergers and Acquisitions and Equity Capital Market transactions. He is the current President of the Western Australian Referees Association and a Director of the Force 15 Foundation. He has served as Chairman, Vice President and Treasurer of the Western Australian Cricket Association.

RUSSEL PERRY is currently the Chief Executive of a property development company involved in the Capricorn Project at Yanchep. He is a former Station Manager of Channel Seven (Perth) and one-time executive with the Nine Network. Russel was also a Member of the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal.

BRENT STEWART is the founder and chief executive of marketing planning and research consultancy, Market Equity, which was recently acquired by Aegis PLC and will be relaunched in Australia under the global brand of Synovate. He has sat on numerous government committees and working groups in industries ranging from beef to small business development.

VERN REID is the chief executive of the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Foundation, an independent body which raises funds for the hospital. He is a former marketing manager of the Fremantle Football Club, general manager of the Perth Wildcats and marketing manager of the 1987 America’s Cup Defence.

JOHN WELBORN was an inaugural player for the Emirates Western Force and is Western Australia's first born and bred Wallaby. John is a chartered accountant and heads up Private Client Activities for Investec Bank. A member of the Fox Sports commentary team, he is also a rugby columnist, and co-host of the Monday afternoon show on ABC radio. John is an executive committee member of the Rugby Union Players Association, and holds directorships of Force 15 Foundation and Future Now Learning for Life.