ARU rejects new call to merge Brumbies with Rebels

The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) is holding firm on safeguarding the Brumbies from the Super Rugby chopping block, amid calls to merge the club with the Melbourne Rebels.

Rebels boss Andrew Cox has welcomed discussion of the merger idea, raised by former Wallabies coach John Connolly who has backed the vulnerable Western Force to remain in the competition.

But an ARU spokesman told AAP there had been no change in its position that the Brumbies be excluded from discussions around cutting Australia’s Super Rugby participation from five to four teams.

Both the Rebels and Force have insisted the ARU has no legal right to remove them after governing body Sanzaar’s decision to reduce Super Rugby by three teams, including two from South Africa.

Since announcing that either the Force or Rebels will be kicked out, the ARU has been bogged down by legal threats and action, leaving the situation unclear.

Connolly, who coached the Queensland Reds during a successful period in the 1990s, told News Corp Australia the Brumbies were fortunate to survive the axe.

“The Force really should survive, it’s a rugby stronghold and it’s well positioned,” Connolly said.

“The Perth market is growing, they’ve developed a lot of talent, half their side is from their local juniors. We want a national game, and they provide it.”

Connolly’s merger proposal would see the “Melbourne Brumbies” split their home games between the locations, while the Force’s ability to produce homegrown talent entitled them a place in the competition.

“Melbourne will always struggle to find that foothold with the AFL being so dominant, and the Brumbies from my point of view are fortunate to have escaped. I really think they should merge and become the Melbourne Brumbies. You keep the Brumbies brand and can capitalise on growth in Victoria, and they can split their home games. There’s no perfect scenarios at this point, so I believe this would be making the best of what we’ve got. Losing the Force would be a great shame.”

However, Cox says no discussions with the Brumbies had taken place regarding a merger.

“It’s certainly great to see someone thinking outside the box to help the ARU board find a way out of this,” he said.

“But it is a matter for the ARU board and we certainly haven’t had any discussions with the Brumbies.”

Meanwhile, the Cheetahs, believed to be one of the two South African teams to be axed from next year’s tournament, have reportedly started with legal proceedings against the country’s governing body.

South Africa’s Rapport claimed that the Cheetahs have ordered Saru to clarify its stance on the Cheetah’s Super Rugby future. Saru signed an agreement with the Cheetahs, whereby the franchise “is guaranteed a place in the Super Rugby competition up to 2020”, the paper claimed.