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Building a country in disunion
By Wayne Smith
January 24, 2008
THE fallout from the Australian Rugby Union's scrapping of the Australian Rugby Championship continues, with the Western Force revealing plans to tour Britain in August if no worthwhile competition to replace the ARC is put in place.
The ARU has given no indication of what, if anything, it plans to run this year, even as an interim measure, to fill the player development void, although a spokesman said a competition of some description was "still on the table".
Although the four Super 14 clubs have been asked to put aside a block of time in September-October for a possible round-robin tournament, no firm arrangements have been made.
In the interim, NSW has taken advantage of the hole in the program by extending the Sydney premiership to 22 weeks, which may make it logistically impossible for Super 14 contracted players to then go into an inter-provincial competition without cutting into their designated rest period before pre-season training in mid-October.
The Force, in typical fashion, has taken matters into its own hands by arranging a tour of Britain in August.
"We are very supportive of the ARU putting in place an interim replacement for the ARC, something that provides a high-level third-tier competition for contracted players," Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke said.
"But if that's not forthcoming, we're in the process of negotiating a development tour of the UK for a squad of about 30 players. Four of the top clubs there, Leicester, Saracens, Northampton and Ospreys have indicated they are prepared to play."
The tour will be funded by what Stooke described as "new money". A number of new sponsors had come forward to support the ARC, only to discover the wheels had been removed from their sponsorship vehicle.
The Victorian Rugby Union alone stands to lose $350,000 in contracts that were locked in around the Melbourne Rebels.
Stooke was adamant the Force did not want Sydney clubs ringing its players, taking advantage of the fact they were at a loose end following the cancellation of the ARC, a cancellation driven by vested Sydney interests, in the eyes of many critics.
"Not one of our players will be playing club rugby anywhere but here (in Perth)," Stooke vowed.
It is not just the Force that is digging in its heels against what it regards as a selfish and ultimately self-defeating attempt by Sydney powerbrokers to replace the ARC with a national club competition based around four or five of the wealthiest and most powerful Sydney clubs.
Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan told The Australian any Canberra club that joined the mooted series would be disaffiliated.
Fagan said "as a matter of principle", the ACT would not support a national club competition and identified a key repercussion that appears not to have occurred to Sydney supporters of the proposed series.
"I think it would cause enormous issues with the strength of our competition," Fagan said. "I think you would find players flowing to play with one club."
He stressed any new third-tier competition could involve no more than eight teams playing a minimum of eight matches and the Super 14 pathways needed to be recognised. In short, there would need to be teams drawing on the professional resources of the Brumbies and Force.
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<A href="http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23100244-23217,00.html">Building a country in disunion - Rugby - Fox Sports
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But please come to Edinburgh too...pretty please?
(Oh... and... InnFORCEers tour, anyone?!)
Keeping the Faith ... right here in Perth!
So another "interim" competition involving the four Super 14 sides...
Actually, the original four team national competition model - when it was to be a proper home-and-away series played after Super 14, not the crappy end of year thing they played over east in 2006 - is still my favourite one. You know, 'brand continuity' and all. Anyway, probably the wrong thread![]()
You've gotta love the Force, they march to the beat of their own drum. No wonder over East they hate our guts. Maybe we should put in an application to join the NPC or Currie Cup..
Good thinking by the Force really. We def have the financial support in the West to support rugby so why not use it to its full potential. I think we all agree that scrapping the ARC was a stupid idea and comments about another interim competition confirm this. Clearly we need some third tier competition to fill the void and develop talent. Whatever that competition is and in whatever form, if it is going to be half way decent it is going to cost money in the short term. The ARU can hardly expect to make a profit in the first few years and they were stupid to think they could do it in a world cup year.
Anyway yay to the Force I say. Maybe we really should consider being our own country?
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau."
This is because The Force is a West Australian based team and is sick and tired of the East Coast crap. If the power brokers within the ARU can't get something sorted why should we sit and twiddle our thumbs waiting. This could be the wake up call needed to get some action from the fat cats in Sydney who are draining the coffers of Australian Rugby.The Force, in typical fashion, has taken matters into its own hands by arranging a tour of Britain in August.
Posted via space
Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.
Perhaps we should propose a new competition:
Home & Away Series.
8 Teams.
2 x Western Australia
2 x ACT
2 x Brisbane
1 x Gold Coast
1 x Melbourne
Leave the NSWRU bum bandits too it!
IF there is no ARC replacement then I would fully support the Force doing whatever is required to get strong competition for our player development, wherever that meant travelling to to find it.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
hmmm interesting proposal there Burgs.. i kinda like it!
1st plays ANZ NPC Champions
2nd plays Currie Cup Champions
8th play NSW Club Champions
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
I reckon they'd get a good reception at Ravenhill![]()
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
What about an InnForcers tour of Britain, should it go ahead![]()
i think the currie cup would be the go.
or an asian leauge?