Rebels oppose greater union in which Queensland hosts centralised system

THE MELBOURNE Rebels are against an ARU proposal to centralise the administration of its Super Rugby sides.

Rebel by occupation, rebel by nature. Melbourne CEO Rob Clark in his motor bike get-up.

THE MELBOURNE Rebels have come out swinging against an ARU proposal to centralise the administration of its Super Rugby sides, and taken aim at Queensland with one of the lustiest swipes.

The ARU have informed Super Rugby franchises it is looking to mitigate current financial woes by cutting down on duplication and centralising administrative roles across national and state bodies.

While rugby programs would remain independent, a large number of front-office jobs would be folded into one building; including in commercial, marketing, accounting and IT services.

That building would likely be in Queensland and with Reds boss Jim Carmichael in the biggest corner office running the show, after ARU boss Bill Pulver recently grilled the Reds CEO on the running on the country’s only profitable franchise.

The Force are not involved due to distance issues and the Brumbies are reportedly reticent to join, leaving the Reds, Waratahs and Rebels to link up.

News_Image_File: ARU chief executive officer Bill Pulver has talked of the need for administrative streamlining.

Rebels chief executive Rob Clarke on Wednesday gave a strongly different view, however, strongly asserting a centralised administration run out of Brisbane was not the answer.

“As far as I know, no model has been articulated, nothing has been agreed,” Clarke told SEN radio in Melbourne.

“I don’t think the Queensland Reds spreading their fairy dust around Australian rugby landscape is going to solve the ills in the game. We have all got our challenges.”

Discussions about the precise structure of a new central organisation are ongoing but should it be opt-in and the Rebels and Brumbies stay out, it could see the bizarre situation of rival Australian heavyweights Queensland and NSW teaming up in a partial joint-venture.

The Brumbies are waiting on further news of the centralisation moves before they confirm the appointment of interim CEO Doug Edwards.

Despite Pulver admitting the Rebels was a huge financial burden on the ARU, Clarke said he was confident the Melbourne franchise would not be axed.

“How can you have an international competition and not have a competitive team in arguably the southern hemisphere’s greatest sporting market like Melbourne? It’s not going to happen,” Clarke said.

News_Rich_Media: Stephen Larkham and the ACT Brumbies unable to start their Super Rugby campaigns with a win in Canberra against the Queensland Reds.

Meanwhile, the Brumbies are set to represent Australia in a world 10s tournament to be held in Singapore in June, and will feature some of the top rugby clubs on the planet.

The Daily Telegraph understands the tournament is to be held in Singapore and is believed to have Toulon, the Chiefs, Saracens and the Stormers also among the entrants.

The Tens competition will be held during the June Test window and therefore not feature players required for the Australia-France, New Zealand-England, South Africa-Wales or Argentina-Ireland Test series.

But the Brumbies are understood to be sending as strong a squad as possible for valuable match fitness in the Super Rugby lay-off, and ex-Test stars are littered throughout the European clubs.

It is believed the tournament will be held at the new Sports Hub stadium in Singapore, and potentially on a floating pitch in Marina Bay as well.

A Singapore Rugby Union spokesman on Wednesday night admitted the tournament was taking place but declined to confirm participants.

“We are holding a press conference tomorrow,” he said.