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THE brutal truth emerging is that the Aussie side chopped from Super Rugby will be the only club to be dissolved because South African bosses are searching for a European lifeline.
Another day has ticked over with the endangered Melbourne Rebels and Western Force still no closer to learning of their fate for 2018 and beyond.
A special general meeting of the Australian Rugby Union will fill in some of the blanks because the push is on to disclose details of the strategic markers for the two clubs and the review process.
The agitation of the Rugby Union Players Association, which includes Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore as a board member, has pushed for the overdue outline of details.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander is insistent that the two clubs facing the axe in South Africa will still have a competition to play in.
Alexander said SA Rugby was in “advanced talks” with competitions in two different regions.
If the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs and the Southern Kings, from South Africa’s eastern cape, are the imperilled clubs, they may, at least, still get top rugby to nourish them.
‘The whole plan is to ensure that the two teams (axed from Super Rugby) will take part in other competitions from 2018,” Alexander told South Africa’s Netwerk24.
“We do not want to condemn them to the wilderness. So if all goes well, all (six South African) teams will participate in an international tournament.”
European competitions may be cool on the idea of welcoming a South African side and the massive additional travel component.
The extra broadcast money that a Cheetahs side might leverage is a plus and PRO12, with teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy may be looking to spice up their format.
Full article: http://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/s...4bfcde70f6d6fc
How interesting that SA Rugby's President "does not want to condemn [the Kings and Cheetahs] to the wilderness" whereas our national union here cannot wait to condemn one of ours to exactly that.
Another reason for the entire ARU to be sacked without pay!!
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
South Africa are in a geographical location that a European competition may think about admitting them apart from the fact it's a 8-10 hour flight, possibly off set by increased TV revenue South afirca may bring the table.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Secondary thought on this is that unless a European competition is happy to accept the South African sides into the competition than they will be condemned to the wilderness regardless of what the SARU President says.
The expansion to Argentina and Japan happened due to a thought bubble like these ones. And didn't that go swimmingly. As Mr Marks says - high time for the game to be put back into the hands of custodians dedicated to The Game in preference to The Product (jeez I hate that expression)
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
JON walked out the door with about $2million in salary and incentive payments in his final year I think, so the precedent is there! That said, Puller and the Board have all been much less profligate with the salary/fees budget since Puller took over in 2013. Although Puller did take an incentive bonus of $230K in 2015 which I assume was because of the 'most excellent' TV deal he managed to snaffle!!
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby