Australian Side Dumped From Super Rugby As ARU Chiefs Quits In Dramatic Day
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Western Force have been axed from the Super Rugby competition and ARU chief Bill Pulver has announced he will quit in a dramatic day for Australian Rugby.
Pulver confirmed he will leave his role as soon as a replacement can be found, at a press conference in Sydney on Friday evening, Western Force players and officials reacted angrily to the news they will be cut and have vowed to keep fighting the ARU in the courts.
Force hooker Heath Tessman simply wrote “cowards” on Twitter after the ARU announced they would discontinue the franchise, while WA Rugby declared they’re looking to appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
“The ARU has informed Rugby WA today that it intends to remove the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition in 2018,” a Rugby WA statement said.
“Rugby WA remains committed to pursuing every possible means to ensure the Western Force remains a Super Rugby team in Perth.
“Rugby WA is considering all options including bringing urgent proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW, and legal action relating to the circumstances which led it to enter into the Alliance Agreement with the ARU.
“Whilst the board of Rugby WA is extremely disappointed with the ARU’s stated position, with the support of the rugby community and numerous WA business identities including Mr Andrew Forrest AO we will continue the fight to retain the Force in Western Australia.”
