GOLD DIGGER - The search for Australian Rugby - The Western Force

[andrewg]

December 01, 2021 - MATT DURRANT - Season 1 - Episode 26

EPISODE 26: The tale of the Western Force

Show Notes

A historic new expansion that turned into one of Australian rugby’s most bitter civil wars, the Western Force is a franchise that has ridden the rollercoaster of excitement and devastation. This is an episode that looks at how the team came into existence, how Australian rugby and Super Rugby evolved over that time, the inside story of the controversial axing of the team and how the Force managed to rise again from the ashes.

With first hand interviews with former ARU Board director and WA rugby stalwart Geoff Stooke, former Rugby WA chairman Tony Howarth, former ARU CEO John O’Neill and a host of others including clips from the Senate Enquiry into the “Future of Rugby in Australia”, we piece together just what happened to the Western Force and why it still matters today. Get a big cup of coffee, sit back and dig into this gripping yarn.

Thanks Matt Durrant - About time that the story was comprehensively told.​

Worth the 1.5 hours of your time. Really like the optimistic close.

[Tazzmania]

Great podcast, brought back a lot of memories of our journey, both good and bad.

Well done to all involved.

[.X.]

Its a cracker. well worth the listen

[shasta]

Well done to all involved.

Yes. Now, being able to look forward, it is actually comical re-hearing how transparently deceitful Clyne & Pulver were with the Senate. Pathetic bastards.

[Jules]

Still makes the blood boil but we have definitely come out stronger!

[AndyS]

Yes. Now, being able to look forward, it is actually comical re-hearing how transparently deceitful Clyne & Pulver were with the Senate. Pathetic bastards.

Probably just goes to show what a waste of time and money such things are. All talk and no trousers.

[shasta]

Probably just goes to show what a waste of time and money such things are. All talk and no trousers.

Not so sure. I Reckon it served to put the ARU deception on public display thru the ES media, adding ammo for Clynes exit in disgrace. He's on the public record as an incompetant wrecker.

It may have been more damning if those emails Nick Taylor dug up had already come to light. The senators could have applied the blowtorch as to exactly why AF's 50 mill was "too late". And who did/knew what/when.

[jargan83]

The Senate would not have done squat about it.

[The InnFORCEr]

well worth the listen, thanks andrewg