Rugby Australia has offered the Force a long-term deal – but it may not be enough

[shasta]

This has been hinted at before today, but it's fleshed out a little more here

Rugby Australia has offered the Western Force a five-year Super Rugby licence, but the West Australian franchise is pushing for a longer-term commitment and greater commercial surety in the form of a perpetual arrangement.

It comes as Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge urged RA to consider perpetual licences, particularly for the Force, saying they should not have to “give the keys back at every broadcast deal”.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-u...28-p57n4z.html

[jargan83]

So what would happen if all 5 Australian sides argued and really dug in on the issue of perpetual licenses instead of 5 year deals?

Is there the possibility that they could threaten an independent competition?

[andrewg]

I don't trust anything put out by Tom Decent and the SMH.

There is no way known that Tony Lewis would have been "over the moon" with the offer of a 5-year deal.

[The InnFORCEr]

If he was, it was a blue moon

[Jules]

Tony Lewis mentioned that during his rugby wrap interview and he didn’t sound like a 5 year deal would cut it with them

[GIGS20]

Tony Lewis mentioned that during his rugby wrap interview and he didn’t sound like a 5 year deal would cut it with them

It also seems like a really poor negotiation tactic to agree to the five year deal when you really want a perpetual license, surely your bargaining chip is to refuse to play next year if they don't come to the party. that will put them in breach of contract with Nine and they'll have to find a team at short notice with the obvious pressure that the new team will know the history of the fifth team in this model.

If I was negotiating I'd not sign the five year deal and play brinksmanship (I wouldn't be doing that without running it past the boss first though)
Force don't need Super Rugby as much as Super Rugby needs the Force.

[JSJ]

It also seems like a really poor negotiation tactic to agree to the five year deal when you really want a perpetual license, surely your bargaining chip is to refuse to play next year if they don't come to the party. that will put them in breach of contract with Nine and they'll have to find a team at short notice with the obvious pressure that the new team will know the history of the fifth team in this model.

If I was negotiating I'd not sign the five year deal and play brinksmanship (I wouldn't be doing that without running it past the boss first though)
Force don't need Super Rugby as much as Super Rugby needs the Force.

I think we should trust in Twiggy's deal making and brinkmanship skills.

[GIGS20]

I think we should trust in Twiggy's deal making and brinkmanship skills.

It was more along the lines of I don't believe the article is painting an accurate picture of the Force's reaction.

Having listened to Tony Lewis discussing the exact issue on the podcast, he doesn't seem like he came down in the last shower either.

[jono]

I’d laugh them off the zoom meeting unless the offer was the same for all franchises.

[AndyS]

It probably is. The Reds and Waratahs could probably have one year deals however, in the confident knowledge they'll never be on the block regardless of circumstance. So maybe if a perpetual license is off the table across the board, a nice clear and simple clause stating that the Force will always play in the same competition as the Waratahs and on equal terms might suffice.

[Sheikh]

I’d laugh them off the zoom meeting unless the offer was the same for all franchises.

According to Nick Taylor in the West today, it was the same offer to all franchises. None of them have signed up yet.