Billionaire Offers Australian Rugby Union Insane Amount Of Money To Save Western Force
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Serious investment.
Rugby Western Australia has been granted the chance to appeal against the Western Force’s Super Rugby axing, with an appeal being heard on Wednesday.
The Force met the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) in court on Wednesday, with the Supreme Court to granting the West Australian body leave for appeal against the arbitration decision that went against them, which allowed the governing body axe the franchise from Super Rugby.
Billionaire Andrew Forrest met with ARU board members in Adelaide on Tuesday, with the national body turning down an offer of grassroots investment believed to be worth in excess of $50 million to keep the Western Force alive.
The ARU says it is impossible to reinstate the force, as SANZAAR has already ruled out the possibility of a 16-team competition.
“These factors included the extensive cost and limited appeal of a 16-team round-robin competition, player welfare issues due to extra travel requirements, and the loss of popular home and away ‘derbies’ in each country,” ARU chairman Cameron Clyne told AAP.
“We were genuinely appreciative of Andrew’s generous offer to back the Western Force and Australian Rugby.
“However, given the position we are in, we are unable to work towards retaining five teams in Super Rugby.”
