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Nick Taylor remembered as well
A dark day: Supreme irony with Western Force grudge match against Melbourne Rebels on day they were axed
Nick Taylor
The West Australian
Sat, 5 September 2020 2:00AM
There is a supreme irony about today’s Western Force grudge Super Rugby clash with the Melbourne Rebels.
Three years ago today, in what was described as the darkest day in Australian rugby history, Rugby Australia controversially guillotined the Force.
It was the day RA thought they had finally seen the back of the Force after the NSW Supreme Court ruled they could axe them from Super Rugby.
It was the day the Rebels, who had cost RA millions of dollars, escaped the chop.
And it was the day billionaire Andrew Forrest announced his breakaway competition that led to the resurrection of the Force.
Now, in the final game of their campaign, the Force can inflict retribution, by stopping the Rebels breakthrough finals appearance.
On September 5, 2017 then Force captain Matt Hodgson broke down during an emotional media conference.
Now, as rugby director of Forrest’s Global Rapid Rugby, he has helped drive the rise of the Force.
Hodgson insists revenge for the axing is not foremost in his thoughts - but he’d like to see the side overturn the “Super time” loss to the Rebels in the first meeting.
“I don’t look at dates, I look at games, but I’ve had a lot of people remind me about the date,” he said.
“Of course there is history but it’s the last game that is fresh in the mind.
“The boys let it slip and they want revenge for that. They will be up for this game. They are pretty pumped.
“They will be going out to prove that we deserve to be at this level.”
Forrest said victory would be the perfect way to reward hard work and sacrifice.
“We have entered every game as the underdog yet pushed our opponents to the limit. Those teams from the east certainly know they’ve been in a scrap,” he said.
“The rebirth of the Force, to the extent Rugby Australia now views us as an integral part of their future plans, is one of Australia’s great sporting stories.
“Together we have triumphed against adversity and the future of rugby in our great state looks impregnable.
“Our players have shown humility, courage and determination in being separated from their families and playing eight away games on the trot.”