Emotional Western Force Captain Pleads To Save His Club
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Western Force captain Matt Hodgson made an emotional plea to save his club after the team’s win over the Kings on Sunday.
Force supporters went onto the field after the final whistle, around the same time that SANZAAR released a statement confirming that Super Rugby would be reduced from 18 teams to 15 next season.
Australia is set to lose one team in the restructure, with the Force reportedly set to be sacrificed. Hodgson aired his frustrations after the 46-41 Super Rugby win in Perth.
“We’ll live each day like it’s our last,” Hodgson told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“It’s going to be disappointing that they’re going to go east coast, or pick up another code, and I think that’s the worst thing.
“If it’s not us we won’t be celebrating because it’s bad for Australian rugby full stop. I think it’s a bad sign for Australia rugby.
“It’s frustrating. The way it’s been done is probably the most annoying thing. [It’s] dragged on. I’ve done four press conferences this week and had one rugby question.”
Hodgson then spoke about the impact cutting the Force would have on both his own son and all younger supporters in Western Australia.
“You don’t know where to put your kid now,” Hodgson added.
“Do I put him into rugby or do I put him to stay here in Western Australia and play AFL? For kids to turn up here now is great but now they don’t know whether the Western Force are going to be in their future.”
