Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest wants ARU to merge Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies to save Western Force

ONE of the richest men in Australia has proposed a radical idea on the eve of the ARU’s arbitration hearing against Western Force.

Mining boss and Western Force supporter Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest wants the Rebels and Brumbies to merge so the Force can remain in the Super Rugby competition.

BILLIONAIRE mining magnate Andrew Forrest has called on the ARU to merge and Melbourne Rebels with the Brumbies as the Western Force’s future is put on the line in an arbitration hearing from Monday.

Force supporter Forrest, who told players he will do “whatever it takes” to save their club after their final match of Super Rugby this year, said he is also open to exploring the idea of the Force merging with the Rebels.

The ARU’s intention is to axe the Force should they win arbitration, but the man valued at $4.8 billion believes their first consideration should be to merge the Melbourne and Canberra teams due to proximity.

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“It will bolster the rugby culture in Victoria, giving players there access to one of the best teams in the country,” Forrest said.

“It will allow the Brumbies to broaden their sponsorship appeal and it will, importantly, allow the Western Force to continue to grow its incredible support base.

Mining boss and Western Force supporter Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest wants the Rebels and Brumbies to merge so the Force can remain in the Super Rugby competition.

“Another option could also see the Western Force merge with the Rebels. Again, with the ARU supporting a rugby academy in Victoria and having a player pathway to the Western Force. The benefits to both states would be similar again.

“I know the ARU will make the right call on this for the sake of the future of rugby, as a truly national sport. I look forward to working with them to achieve this.”

Should WA Rugby lose the arbitration case, it’s believed the “whatever it takes” line from Forrest could translate to further legal action against the ARU, as far up as the Supreme Court.

That is a nightmare scenario for the ARU, who could lose millions of dollars in legal cases when they are bleeding cash - the very reason they’re seeking to axe a team.

The arbitration hearing begins Monday, with WA Rugby to argue that an alliance agreement signed jointly by them and the ARU ensures their survival until the end of the current Super Rugby broadcast agreement in 2020.

The ARU will counter by saying SANZAAR’s decision to cut the competition to 15 teams next year, and the announcement by South Africa to remove the Cheetahs and Southern Kings means a new broadcast agreement signed by all 13 networks is binding.

Both parties are confident in their legal cases. Hearings will run from between five to 10 working days and a decision handed down the week after.

That means if the ARU wins, they will announce the demise of the Force in the week of the opening Bledisloe Cup match between the Wallabies and All Blacks in Sydney on August 19.

Forrest said the Force’s support from fans, which has seen 4700 people buy shares in the Own The Force campaign, shows they must remain in Australian rugby.

“I have not had to pick up the phone, business leaders have been calling me,” Forrest said. “Support has also come from ordinary folk, from all over the state, who don’t even follow rugby. Like me, they have been inspired by this incredible grassroots movement to save the Western Force.”

Originally published as Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest wants ARU to merge Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies to save Western Force