Force, Rebels in danger of player raids as Super Rugby saga drags on
April 27, 2017 2:59pm|
by Justin Chadwick, AAP|
Source: FOX SPORTS
THE Western Force and Melbourne Rebels are in danger of being stripped bare of their uncontracted stars as the saga surrounding the future of their franchises continues to drag on.
Either the Rebels or Force will be axed under the ARU’s plans to have just four Australian franchises compete in a revamped 15-team Super Rugby competition from next year.
After announcing the plan on April 9, the ARU was hoping to have finalised its decision on who to cut within 72 hours.
But with the Force and Rebels both threatening legal action in a bid to stave off extinction, the saga has dragged on — with a decision unlikely to be made for at least several weeks.
With lawyers now involved, it’s highly unlikely the situation will be resolved by the time SANZAAR holds its next board meeting for the week of May 10 in Tokyo.
In the meantime, both the Force and Rebels are unable to re-sign any players who aren’t in the Wallabies picture.
It’s left both franchises vulnerable to player raids from rival outfits.
And with overseas opportunities set to dry up over the next month, a host of Force and Rebels players may jump ship early in the fear their franchise may not survive the axe.
Force winger Luke Morahan has already announced he will link up with English outfit Bristol, and a number of his teammates have also been approached by overseas sides.
The Rebels are also trying their best to fend off rival raids. But like the Force, their hands are tied while the uncertainty drags on.
Force foundation player Pek Cowan is contracted through to 2018, and has no intention of seeking a deal elsewhere.
But he fears some of his teammates may be left with little option but to sign with a rival franchise in order to secure their future.
“The overseas window closes in a month or two,” Cowan said.
“For guys who are sitting and hoping, I guess the decision’s being made for them.
“The longer this takes, the less time they have, and I guess the more likelihood they’re forced to make a different decision other than opting to stay here.”
A planned meeting between the Force and ARU on Thursday was cancelled, with the exact reasons unclear.
Earlier this week, former Wallabies coach John Connolly said a merger between the Rebels and Brumbies was the best option.
But the ARU remain adamant it is still going ahead with plans to axe either the Force or the Rebels.
The Force attracted a crowd of 14,089 for last week’s loss to the Chiefs, and Cowan said the support had meant the world to the players.
“The support is definitely growing. We feel that as a group,” Cowan said.
“WA is a massive state, and we’ve got clubs and people playing far further out than just the Perth regional area.
“In that sense, we’ve definitely got a lot of support. What’s going on around us is drawing the community in together.”
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/fo...4dba4a5c3c07eb
