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The below article is so entirely off the mark about just how much Western Australians detest and loathe Rugby Australia for not addressing the Force plight and promising to not forget WA when they clearly have and done absolutely nothing for the game here. You may as well play community rugby in South Australia because they get more from Rugby Australia than the Force do who just so happen to be an ex super rugby franchise.
The sold out tickets are mainly because kiwi fans have lapped them up in droves. No other rugby game will attract a crowd as big as an All Black blockbuster no matter where you live in the world. If an All Black game can attract a 60k crowd in the USA, notably Chicago then ofcourse you can expect a similar crowd in Perth. The fact no one bothers with the Argentinian and South African games is more of a reflection on the state of the Wallabies than this bledisloe cup clash.
The East coast is still deluded. The tide will be a sea of black and blue and the RA administrators will be red in the face, again..
Tension still lingers in west two years on from Force axing
Tension still lingers in west two years on from Force axing
Tom Decent
By Tom Decent
August 5, 2019 — 4.32pm
The sight of Western Force players drinking their sorrows away at an average Perth nightclub and ending the evening with greasy kebabs summed up just how bad a day they had had almost two years ago.
In September 2017 when the when the Wallabies were in Perth, it’s safe to say timing was far from perfect.
An emotional Matt Hodgson struggles to hold back his tears after RugbyWA's appeal against the Force's axing was dismissed.
Smack bang in the middle of a Test week leading into a match against the Springboks, RugbyWA lost its appeal in the NSW Supreme Court to have the Western Force remain in Super Rugby.
The Australian Rugby Union – now known as Rugby Australia – had all but been given the green light to cut the Force from Super Rugby.
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Captain Matt Hodgson, a veteran of the club, held back tears that day, while teammates and Wallabies representatives Adam Coleman and Dane Haylett-Petty were informed of the news before training on the Tuesday.
“Frustrated, angry, annoyed and disappointed,” Hodgson said at the time. “You see what it means to people.”
With an important Test coming up, it sparked widespread anger in Perth, whose rugby fraternity could not comprehend the ARU’s decision to punt their beloved boys in blue.
Players banded together and many shared plenty of lagers late into the following morning – and how could you blame them?
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Some fans decided to boycott the Test, which the Wallabies drew 23-23, while many opted to wear their Force attire in a show of solidarity.
Almost two years on and the Wallabies are back in Perth for the first time since that week, this time with an assignment against the All Blacks before them.
There is still palpable animosity in the west over the handling of the Force’s axing but the fact tickets for the Bledisloe Cup opener at the newly built Optus Stadium have sold out shows rugby still has a heartbeat, even if not all is rosy.
According to RugbyWA's 2018 annual report, released in June, participation rates had reduced by 20 per cent in senior and eight per cent in junior leagues. The organisation also said it was trying to negotiate a $1 million debt bailout from the state government.
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Rugby figures in the west feel the jury is still out on whether RA has done enough to support rugby in the state over the past two years.
Hodgson said West Australians had not forgotten how the messy saga played out.
“Rugby is strong in Western Australia but there will always be that feeling of sadness about what has happened,” Hodgson told the Herald. “It’s a combination of things. It’s difficult to put into words. To have something taken away from you is pretty difficult, especially when we were doing some positive things here. Everyone is excited though to be part of a sell-out crowd on Saturday and hopefully that results in a win for the Wallabies.
“Players always wanted a pathway and for a while there was a bit of an unknown of playing football in Perth wondering what is next. Now with the establishment of Rapid Rugby we’re actually showing a pathway.”
Coleman, along with Haylett-Petty, packed his bags and signed for the Melbourne Rebels in the 2018 Super Rugby season. Most players from the Force side two years ago have found other clubs.
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“It is something that is always going to be there and it was a tough day for everyone in Western Australia but you have to move forward,” Coleman said. “If you are lingering too much in the past it can weigh you down a little bit. The Force are still here in a different aspect, just not in Super Rugby.”
The Force have an exhibition match against Malaysia Valke on Friday evening in Perth as an extra fixture that will wrap up Rapid Rugby's showcase series.
Hundreds of kids turned out for a fan day on Sunday at University of Western Australia Park to mingle with some of their Wallabies heroes.
“The turnout was unreal,” Coleman said. “It was good to see some of my family here and some familiar faces. The Force fans always come out and see us.