WA premier hopes Andrew Forrest’s proposed rebel competition will cause ‘suffering’ for ARU

WA premier Mark McGowan hopes a rebel competition set up by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest will hurt the ARU after its treatment of the state’s taxpayers.

Western Force has lost an appeal to remain in the Super Rugby competition.

PREMIER Mark McGowan hopes a rebel competition set up by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest will cause suffering for the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) after its treatment of WA taxpayers.

The premier said he hoped Forrest carried out his threat to establish a six-team Indo-Pacific rugby tournament after the Western Force on Tuesday lost a court appeal to remain in Super Rugby.

Western Force has lost an appeal to remain in the Super Rugby competition.

“If we’re not successful in keeping the team in, I hope Andrew carries out his threat and I hope it’s successful and I hope that the ARU suffers as a consequence,” the premier told 6PR radio.

He claimed the ARU had treated fans and taxpayers poorly after the former state government spent more than $100 million providing a home for a WA team.

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“They’ve treated West Australians so badly, and we did so much for them and the taxpayers here put so much effort in, and there’s such a huge fan base, and then they go and dud us.

“There needs to be consequences for those sorts of things.” Forrest has bankrolled the Force’s legal fight and is considering taking the case to the High Court.

His previous offer of $50 million to the ARU for the Force’s survival was rejected.

Meanwhile, Perth will host on Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test between Australia and South Africa at nib Stadium.

The premier said his government was bound contractually to hold the event but admitted its $5 million price tag was too steep.

Originally published as WA premier hopes Andrew Forrest’s proposed rebel competition will cause ‘suffering’ for ARU