Rugby Union: The Force is with us again

Rugby Australia is expected to begin talks with broadcasters after the Western Force’s exile from the game was ended.

Andrew Forrest with Force players who will return to a new Super Rugby competition

Incoming Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said he was hoping to build on Andrew Forrest’s decision to allow the Western Force to take part in the proposed domestic Super Rugby AU competition that is likely to start on July 3.

The competition, which carries Vodafone naming rights, will see the Force pitted against the other four Australian Super Rugby sides that they used to compete against until the franchise was axed by the then Australian Rugby Union in 2017.

McLennan hailed the Force’s return as one of the great stories of Australian rugby and acknowledged the pain the club had been through but said he now hoped to work with Forrest to reinvigorate the game right across the country.

“The return of the Western Force in an Australian based competition is a great story,” McLennan said. “We are grateful for Andrew Forrest’s support and understand that decisions made by Rugby Australia in 2017 were painful for sports fans in Western Australia and the Force players, and we are sorry that they haven’t been able to share in the rivalry against their fellow Australian teams.

“I would love to continue to work with Andrew into the future as we use this opportunity to innovate and reinvigorate rugby right across the country.

“Our Australian derby clashes are always up there with the most popular matches each season and it will be great to see those rivalries ignited again in a national competition. Wallabies spots will also be on the line as (incoming Wallabies coach) Dave Rennie and his coaching team run a keen eye over the competition ahead of the international season.

“The players are hard at it in preparation and we can’t wait to get the season restarted on July 3,” he said.

Forrest insisted that his agreement to work with Rugby Australia at this point extended no further than this year’s domestic competition.

“Until I see evidence that reinvention is at the core of any strategic plan RA comes up with, it will be difficult to commit to a long-term investment,” Forrest said.

Interim RA chief executive Rob Clarke said that although there was still hope that Japanese side, the Sunwolves, would be able to play in the Australian competition, the knowledge that they now had five teams secured enabled RA to ramp up their discussions with their broadcaster Fox Sports and their commercial partners over the coming days.

Forrest said his desire to see rugby union return to a position of sporting prominence in Australia was at the heart of his decision to commit the WA club to Rugby Australia’s proposed one-off domestic competition this year.

“Put simply, I want what is best for rugby in Perth and in Australia and to ensure the game flourishes,” he said.

“My views on the mismanagement of the game under the previous Rugby Australia administration are well known. Change is imperative at the top for rugby to thrive long term.”

“Rugby Australia cannot afford to miss this opportunity to restructure and reinvent every aspect of the game – its governance, cost structure, rules, competition construct, partnerships with broadcasters, commitment to grassroots and, most importantly, engagement with the fans.”

He stressed that the Force’s agreement to join Australia’s four other professional franchises was for the remainder of the year only.

“I developed and launched Global Rapid Rugby across the Asia Pacific region to prove how rugby can be played – fun for the players, fast moving, high scoring and always entertaining.

“The Australian sporting public deserves to see more of that style of rugby. A game which keeps up with the times and is not mired in a myriad of laws. A game which returns rugby to its former national prominence and international appeal. A game that will be embraced by the Asia Pacific region as relevant, culture strengthening and entertaining.

“Until I see evidence that reinvention is at the core of any strategic plan RA comes up with, it will be difficult to commit to a long-term investment.”

Forrest also paid tribute to a group of ex-Wallabies captains led by Simon Poidevin and Nick Farr-Jones who had advised him.

“I am grateful for their guidance and determination to return rugby to its former glory,” Forrest said.

If the proposed competition gets the green light the Force may have to relocate to the eastern seaboard in line with Western Australia’s strict border closure. Discussions with the WA government would then continue around possible home games in Perth later this year.