Anger as Force feel axe
On a day of drama for Australian rugby, the Western Force have been axed from the Super Rugby competition and ARU chief Bill Pulver has announced he will quit.
Western Force players and officials reacted angrily to news they will be cut from the Super Rugby competition and have vowed to keep fighting the ARU in the courts.
Force hooker Heath Tessman simply wrote “cowards” on Twitter after the ARU announced they would discontinue the franchise, while WA Rugby declared they’re looking to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court. “Rugby WA is considering all options including bringing urgent proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW,” Rugby WA said in a statement.
Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest has pledged to do everything within his powers to save the Force and his deep pockets indicate court action is inevitable.
“This is like dumping the fastest improving athlete or the silver medalli st from the Olympic swimming squad and leaving the worst performer in there,” Forrest said. “It is a ludicrous and unfair legal initiative by the ARU.”
Pulver said while the decision was the right one for Super Rugby, he would step down.
“I have made the decision to step down as CEO once the board finds someone to replace the position,” Pulver said. “It’s been a tough year for rugby. It’s a good time for a renewed leadership. A clean state. A new generation of rugby.
“I have enormous sympathy for everyone in WA. Simply, this is the right decision for Super Rugby. We need to get the balance right.”
It was 123 days ago that the ARU declared they would axe a Super Rugby side within “48- 72 hours”, but they were finally able to move on that promise after winning their arbitration case against WA Rugby and dissolving the Force.
The Force had grown confident in recent weeks that they would survive the axe, but yesterday’s arbitration decision leaves them on death’s door.
The Perth- based franchise finished second in the Australian conference during the Super Rugby season, and had nine players selected in an extended Wallabies squad last month.
The ARU said the decision to “discontinue the Force’s licence” was based primarily on financial outcomes, with ARU chairman Cameron Clyne saying Australian rugby could not sustain five teams.
The Rebels were the other team on the chopping block, but they are now safe. “This i s a sad day for rugby, especially for Western Force fans,” Clyne said in a statement.
The Force entered the competition in 2006, but failed to make the finals.