Who are you calling unsustainable Mr Clyne?

[Alison]

From what I could understand, the Waratahs and Force have not received any loan facilities in the period 2011 to 2016.

The Reds were given a loan during that same period but they repaid it in full.

I'm not sure if it was the Brumbies or the ACT Rugby Union, but one or other received a loan during the same period and repaid some of it and had the rest written off.

The REBELSwere extended a ten-year interest-bearing loan of $2.6million effective from 1 Jan 2011 which they could draw down at $1.3million per year in 2011 and 2012. This wasn't due to be repaid until 31 Dec 2021. It is not clear, but I am assuming that this was written off as part of the sale to Cox and is what the $2.6million "special funding as part of the external sale agreement [with Cox]" relates to in the 2016 ARU accounts.

In 2013, the REBELS were extended a new loan facility of $3million "for the next twelve months". It is not clear, but presumably that loan was extended before the owner pulled the pin in July 2013.

In 2014 the REBELS were extended yet another loan facility of "up to" $2.5million for the 12 months to 31 December 2014.

In 2015, the REBELS were extended yet another loan of $4.26million for the 12 months to 31 December 2015.

Prior to the sale of the Rebels to Cox, outstanding loan amounts of $4.26million and $8.75million were "forgiven and cleared from the [ARU's] balance sheet." That 'forgiveness' totalled $13,018,000. If you add to that the $2.6million "special funding" given to the Rebels in 2016, that makes a total of $15,618,000 that the ARU has had to stump up to simply keep the Rebels afloat. If you were to add to that the fact that they receive around $2million more (on average) in super rugby grants each year than the Force do, you could say that the ARU has had to spend around $28million for the privilege of having SuperRugby in Melbourne!!! ($15.6m plus $12m)!!

[chiraag]

That's a great summary Alison, and exactly the sort of easy to understand figures that are easy for the average punter to understand.

Can someone confirm my thoughts that the Force have never been given a loan (aka bailout as above) since they've been in existence, as Alison's investigations are only from 2011. I guess that's what someone arguing for the Rebels may ask

[yungfen]

I don't think so Chiraag, just had a quick look at our annual reports through the western force website.
They are at the bottom of the list. Used to have surplus at the beginning with the original members and obviously slowly went down afterwards but we never had big financial losses....

https://www.westernforce.com.au/about-us/documents

[Transiting]

From what I could understand, the Waratahs and Force have not received any loan facilities in the period 2011 to 2016.

The Reds were given a loan during that same period but they repaid it in full.

I'm not sure if it was the Brumbies or the ACT Rugby Union, but one or other received a loan during the same period and repaid some of it and had the rest written off.

The REBELSwere extended a ten-year interest-bearing loan of $2.6million effective from 1 Jan 2011 which they could draw down at $1.3million per year in 2011 and 2012. This wasn't due to be repaid until 31 Dec 2021. It is not clear, but I am assuming that this was written off as part of the sale to Cox and is what the $2.6million "special funding as part of the external sale agreement [with Cox]" relates to in the 2016 ARU accounts.

In 2013, the REBELS were extended a new loan facility of $3million "for the next twelve months". It is not clear, but presumably that loan was extended before the owner pulled the pin in July 2013.

In 2014 the REBELS were extended yet another loan facility of "up to" $2.5million for the 12 months to 31 December 2014.

In 2015, the REBELS were extended yet another loan of $4.26million for the 12 months to 31 December 2015.

Prior to the sale of the Rebels to Cox, outstanding loan amounts of $4.26million and $8.75million were "forgiven and cleared from the [ARU's] balance sheet." That 'forgiveness' totalled $13,018,000. If you add to that the $2.6million "special funding" given to the Rebels in 2016, that makes a total of $15,618,000 that the ARU has had to stump up to simply keep the Rebels afloat. If you were to add to that the fact that they receive around $2million more (on average) in super rugby grants each year than the Force do, you could say that the ARU has had to spend around $28million for the privilege of having SuperRugby in Melbourne!!! ($15.6m plus $12m)!!

Alison I've sent some amended Tables as suggestions for use in the article.

[Alison]

Got them - cheers T

[Kalahard]

From what I could understand, the Waratahs and Force have not received any loan facilities in the period 2011 to 2016.

The Reds were given a loan during that same period but they repaid it in full.

I'm not sure if it was the Brumbies or the ACT Rugby Union, but one or other received a loan during the same period and repaid some of it and had the rest written off.

The REBELSwere extended a ten-year interest-bearing loan of $2.6million effective from 1 Jan 2011 which they could draw down at $1.3million per year in 2011 and 2012. This wasn't due to be repaid until 31 Dec 2021. It is not clear, but I am assuming that this was written off as part of the sale to Cox and is what the $2.6million "special funding as part of the external sale agreement [with Cox]" relates to in the 2016 ARU accounts. This amount was most likely written off when the ARU regained control of the Rebels after Harold Mitchell lost $8 million and handed back the license

In 2013, the REBELS were extended a new loan facility of $3million "for the next twelve months". It is not clear, but presumably that loan was extended before the owner pulled the pin in July 2013.

In 2014 the REBELS were extended yet another loan facility of "up to" $2.5million for the 12 months to 31 December 2014.

In 2015, the REBELS were extended yet another loan of $4.26million for the 12 months to 31 December 2015.

Prior to the sale of the Rebels to Cox, outstanding loan amounts of $4.26million and $8.75million were "forgiven and cleared from the [ARU's] balance sheet." That 'forgiveness' totalled $13,018,000. If you add to that the $2.6million "special funding" given to the Rebels in 2016, that makes a total of $15,618,000 that the ARU has had to stump up to simply keep the Rebels afloat. If you were to add to that the fact that they receive around $2million more (on average) in super rugby grants each year than the Force do, you could say that the ARU has had to spend around $28million for the privilege of having SuperRugby in Melbourne!!! ($15.6m plus $12m)!! The sale to Cox was - he bought the license for $1, yes one dollar, and struck a deal with the ARU to receive $6 million over 4 years in additional funding.

From memory

[Transiting]

Well done Alison. Excellent piece!!

[Leo86]

Well done Alison. Excellent piece!!

Has it been published?

[Alison]

Has it been published?

Hopefully on GnGR tomorrow - fingers crossed!

Will try and get it up on the Roar too but can't find an email address for them and it won't easily load into their online submission form.

[GAFFA]

Hopefully on GnGR tomorrow - fingers crossed!

Will try and get it up on the Roar too but can't find an email address for them and it won't easily load into their online submission form.

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/who...-cant-do-sums/

[valzc]

HaHa - the denier/s have started - couldn't resist a comment.

[Alison]

It's up to all of us to refute every denier! The facts are all taken either from the ARU's own documents or from quotes by Clyne himself. Will be interesting if anyone from the ARU contacts me or GnGR.

[andrewg]

Top job Allison!

Pleasing to see the level of appreciation from regulars on G&GR.

[Macattack]

Top job Allison!

Yep well done, as usual Alison. Thanks for all your work in support of the Force 👍👍👍

[jargan83]

It's up to all of us to refute every denier! The facts are all taken either from the ARU's own documents or from quotes by Clyne himself. Will be interesting if anyone from the ARU contacts me or GnGR.

They'll probably deny it even exists and pretend it never happened.