History in the making
Billionaire launches rugby comp
Billionare Andrew “Twiggy’’ Forrest has unveiled a historic offer of collaboration between the new Indo Pacific Rugby Championship and the Australian Rugby Union.
Forrest revealed bold plans yesterday to reinstate Australia as the world rugby leader and enhance the country’s opportunity to win the Rugby World Cup in Japan 2019.
The mining magnate said that IPRC’s offer to collaborate with the ARU would also “provide the significant resources to encourage our finest Australian rugby athletes, currently playing overseas, or considering leaving, to join a vibrant, successful international competition, played in the same time zone and based in Australia”.
Forrest (pictured) tried unsuccessfully to save the Force from an ARU Super Rugby cull and now says he wants to work with the game’s governing body and help bankroll the second-tier National Rugby Championship.
“The IPRC will select its schedule to complement Super Rugby’s and so prepare Australian players and coaches, from both competitions, to help Australia field the greatest team in the world,” a statement from Forrest read.
“The IPRC will work with the ARU to grow Australia’s rugby grassroots support base, inspire young players, attract powerful sponsorship and broadcaster interest and be fast moving and highly spectator friendly.
“Exciting innovations related to men’s and women’s sevens rugby will be incorporated.
“Preparation and pre-competition game scheduling has commenced.”
The Indo Pacific Rugby Championship will launch with initially six teams playing matches in a friendly time zone critical for sponsors that captures most of the world’s population.
The competition will focus on countries that either have an established, or growing, interest in rugby union.
Markets include, but are not limited to, Australia, Singapore, Samoa, Fiji, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia.
The ARU responded to Forrest’s press conference by issuing a short statement.
“The Australian Rugby Union has confirmed it is in discussions with Andrew Forrest and his Minderoo team on his proposed Indo-Pacific Rugby Championship.
ARU chairman Cameron Clyne said: “ARU is involved in collaborative discussions with Andrew Forrest and his Minderoo team and we look forward to continuing these discussions over the coming weeks. We do not wish to comment on the specifics.”