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WA's major rugby groups have been stripped of thousands of dollars in funding from the State Government's health promotion agency because they are sponsored by fast-food giant McDonald's.
WA Rugby League got a letter from Healthway this month saying it was no longer eligible for funding, believed to be about $60,000 a year, because it accepted McDonald's sponsorship as part of its bid to launch a Perth NRL team, the West Coast Pirates.
It follows Rugby WA losing its funding late last year for accepting sponsorship from McDonald's, which includes a $50 "Macca's voucher" for those signing up as Western Force members.
Healthway, which is funded by tobacco taxes, is increasingly demanding that sporting clubs sever ties with fast-food and alcohol companies, including those promoting "energy-dense" products.
WARL chief executive John Sackson said his organisation had enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Healthway before its funding was scrapped and was now reviewing its options.
"It's quite a significant shortfall and not something we can really afford to go without," he said. "We have to determine which way we go with this, especially if other brands are keen to get on board, or whether we try to renew the partnership with Healthway by getting rid of the apparently offensive brands.
"We have to respect their policy, not that we always agree with them."
Rugby WA would not comment other than to say it was considering submitting a new application.
Healthway chairwoman Rosanna Capolingua said the agency had a legal responsibility to use taxpayers' money to promote a healthy lifestyle and act as an agent for change.
She said when they agreed to sponsorship, clubs signed a binding contract which spelt out the conditions.
McDonald's WA marketing manager Robert Holmes said the company supported elite and grassroots sport to promote the importance of healthy active lifestyles.
"We have shown we are serious about providing a range of menu choices and about improving the nutrition of our food," he said.
Curtin University professor of health policy Mike Daube said it was sad that sports like rugby and rugby league should be promoting junk food.
"They know the deal when they sign up with Healthway, that they can't have conflicting sponsorship," he said.
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Originally Posted by Rex Messup
