Victorian Liberals Plot to Steal Brumbies
http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...661757306.html
JEFF Kennett famously stole the Grand Prix from Adelaide, and now his protege Ted Baillieu could be plotting another interstate sports raid for Victoria.
A Liberal victory in the state election could see one of rugby union's most successful international franchises, the ACT Brumbies, become the target of a government-backed relocation bid.
The plan to introduce Melbourne to the elite Super 14 rugby competition would be in keeping with Mr Baillieu's strong rugby pedigree. The Opposition Leader represented Victoria in state rugby union sides in the early 1970s.
Opposition sports spokesman Bruce Atkinson said government support was crucial to winning a Super 14 franchise, and indicated that a Baillieu government would closely monitor the Canberra club.
"To encourage the (Super 14) competition administration to either relocate a team to Melbourne or grant an additional licence, it would certainly need strong encouragement from a state government, and I think a Liberal government would certainly see some advantages," he said. "One of the franchises that might be relocated to Melbourne could be the Brumbies from Canberra."
Mr Atkinson said rugby officials were aware of the exposure benefits that Victoria's 5 million population would offer to the code over the ACT's 328,000.
"The Canberra franchise has struggled a bit in recent times, it doesn't have a strong financial base and obviously the support base is good, but I think Melbourne could be better," he said.
Victoria was unsuccessful in its most recent bid to join the Super 14 competition, which involves clubs from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
The local bid in 2004 was defeated by a Perth syndicate, which became the Western Force franchise. Many pundits believe the enormous support pledged by the WA Government was a key factor in that decision.
Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan said the club had received invitations from stadium operators in Victoria — including Telstra Dome — to host one-off home matches in Melbourne.
But he said the Brumbies were guaranteed to remain in Canberra until at least the end of the current television rights deal, which expires in 2010, and that Victorian politicians should stop eyeing off the franchise.
"They should stick to what they know best and maybe not always believe what they read in the papers or hear in the pub," Mr Fagan said.
"We've got more than 10,000 members, we've got corporate hospitality that has been sold out for five years … the only way in which we would ever consider a move would be in the event that that all changed around for some reason."
The Brumbies have twice been crowned champions of the competition and are the home club for several of Australia's highest profile players, including George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and Stirling Mortlock.
