Indo-Pacific rebel rugby competition planned
sydney — Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest announced plans Tuesday for a rebel Indo-Pacific rugby competition after the Western Force lost a legal appeal against their axing from Super Rugby.
Forrest, a billionaire backer of the club’s parent body RugbyWA, said six teams would initially be involved, including the Force, with the league starting “as soon as possible”.
“It will involve key countries across the Indo-Pacific region who have approached us or who have publicly stated their deep conviction to rugby if they could be included in an Indo-Pacific arena,” he said in Perth.
“We will include strong and deeply powerful players, broadcasters and fans of rugby all across the Indo-Pacific region where some 60 percent of the world’s people live on our time-frame right here in Western Australia.”
Forrest, founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals, said he planned to kick off the competition with an international game.
“You may be assured I don’t let the grass grow under my feet. It will be as soon as possible and certainly much faster, I think, than the ARU could ever organise,” he said.
Forrest has been an outspoken critic of the Australian Rugby Union and the handling of its decision to axe one of five Australian teams in the Super Rugby competition.
The Perth-based Force were informed they would be cut last month and on Tuesday the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney dismissed their appeal. —