Force win injunction against ARU axe

RUGBYWA have gained an injunction order against the ARU’s decision to axe the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition.

But it still remains to be seen whether RugbyWA get the chance to appeal the Force’s axing in the Supreme Court.

RugbyWA have lodged their appeal request to the NSW Supreme Court and they will find out on August 23 whether it will be granted.

The injunction order was granted yesterday and it means the ARU can’t sack or relocate players until the issue is sorted.

RugbyWA are being backed by billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest. “We won,” Forrest said after the injunction was granted.

“It is one small, moral victory in the long battle to save this great team but it is a good one to have over those who have shown total ruthlessness towards the players and the proud rugby community that stands behind them.

“This entire process by the ARU has been a secretive, arrogant farce and one that is incredibly disrespectful to the game of rugby union.”

Last Friday, the ARU won their arbitration case against RugbyWA and they immediately axed the Force.

The central issue that was debated in arbitration was whether the ARU had the right to axe the Force under the terms of the “alliance” deal the two parties formed last year.

The ARU bought the Force’s licence as part of that “alliance” deal and guaranteed the franchise’s future until the end of the broadcast deal in 2020.

But the ARU successfully argued at arbitration that the old broadcast deal no longer exists given a new one was negotiated following the reduction from 18 to 15 Super Rugby teams.

Western Force coach Dave Wessels says some of his players were reduced to tears following the ARU’s decision to axe the franchise.