Force deny facing Super Rugby axe

WESTERN Force yesterday dismissed concerns they faced the axe from the troubled Super Rugby competition after a report suggested they would be scrapped in a revamped format.

Organisers Sanzaar are grappling with a way forward for the confusing 18-team, five-nation southern hemisphere championship and announced three weeks ago that a shake-up was imminent. Since then it has been mute on the issue. In the absence of any decisions, speculation has been rife that it will be trimmed back to 15 clubs, with South Africa losing two of its six teams and Australia cutting one of five.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph said yesterday that Western Force, which was founded in 2005, would be chopped rather than the ACT Brumbies or Melbourne Rebels. The NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds are widely considered safe.

But Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry rejected this.

“The reports that are coming out of Sydney at the moment are totally false,” he said.

“Two-and-a-half weeks ago we had a telephone link-up with the Australian Rugby Union and at that time made very clear that there were a number of factors to be considered and there hadn’t been any decisions made, and we’ve had no further correspondence since then.”

Sinderberry was adamant Western Force were not facing the axe.

“It’s not a case of whether they should or not, at all. They will survive,” he said.

Australian Rugby Union chief Bill Pulver said no decisions had been taken.

“At this point, there has been no determination on the future competition format or the teams involved,” he said.

“We also wish to confirm that no decision has been taken on the removal of one of Australia’s Super Rugby teams.” – AFP