The ARU CEO John O’Neill has no option but to request that Melbourne Rebels CEO Brian Waldron be removed from his position.
The scandal that has hit the Melbourne Storm has huge implications for all sports in this country and the Rebels cannot start as a new Super Rugby franchise with the stench of corruption hanging over them via their CEO.
Such a move by the ARU would show strength, a commitment to fairness in sport – which rugby has always championed – and it would send a positive message to sports supporters in this country and to those who are thinking about supporting the Rebels.
The relaunch of Super Rugby in 2011 in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa is an exciting move for the game at a time when it is just starting to move out of the doldrums thanks to the Law interpretations and the positive coaching that we are at last seeing in professional rugby- at least in the Southern Hemisphere.
Furthermore SANZAR has just signed another great TV broadcast deal and there is little doubt that the TV moguls will want assurances that such scandal will not affect their investment.
Then there are the sponsors of rugby who will again seek assurance that rugby is clean.
If the Melbourne Rebels are to attract the necessary levels of sponsorship they require to operate and underwrite the team over and above the grant it receives from the ARU then something has to be done ensure the sponsors’ confidence.
The new Super 15 promises much, including more domestic derbies within each country and I for one look forward to seeing the Aussie teams pay each other home and away.
However it seems impossible that the Melbourne Rebels could start in a new market for rugby with a CEO who has a question mark hanging over him in terms of his previous role with the Melbourne Storm.
The ARU has to act on this and act positively as it will only get one chance to launch the Rebels in the highly competitive market that is Melbourne.
The Rugby community is watching.
jus de couchon
Guest
Slater looks an excellent rugby player. Im London Harlequins , whats his agents number? The Frogs are introducing a Salary Cap next year , but we can reach an accomedation [so to speak].
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
slater would break like rogers did, inglis im not sure, but cronk might be worthwhile with his background
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
The ARU cant do anything though, the only thing they could do was push for waldrons removal, thats it, other than that, it doesnt have any power over rugby league clubs.
titus
Guest
Are Melburnians really that indifferent about other footy codes other than AFL? I thought Melbourne is the sports capital of Australia. Heck, I don't follow AFL or the A-League but I know who the Sydney Swans are and Sydney FC.
Tom
Guest
Is everyone just under the assumption that Slater, Inglis and Smith would just get up and change codes?? Smith wont leave melbourne
JF
Guest
The rebels should stay the hell away from every one of the Storm players, especially Slater, Inglis and Smith! Besides the fact that recruiting RL players to RU is almost always a bad idea, it would hinder the Rebels ability to establish their own following in Melbourne. The average Melbournian seeing a recognised RL name turn out for the Rebels just reinforces the perception that both codes are basically the same thing. The Rebels need to establish a differentiated Rugby culture, to attract a band of loyal rugby followers, not to try and poach Storm supporters.
super schlooper
Guest
some strong mail about mr inglis, mr cronk and mr slater moving to the rebels when their current contracts expire.. they realise the storm is over and want to stay in melbourne and still earn good $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
jacko
Guest
best early publicity the rebels will ever get! It was all over the news "waldron now at melbourne rebels". At least it got all the non union people here at work asking "who are the melbourne rebels".
mcxd
Guest
Spot on pothale, where this will end who knows ???
pothale
Guest
Hopefully the ARU will follow the NH's lead on this issue and respond as severly as Harlequins were dealt with following the Bloodgate scandal with the departure of the coach, chairman, assistants and medical staff along with fines. Thankfully, Harlequins did not win their quarter-final and go on to win the Heineken Cup. The fact that Storm has been stripped of two of its league titles and some minor ones will give the other competing teams pause for thought. And the sponsors. And the TV networks. This is going to have a lot of ramifications that have yet to play out.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
With Waldron gone then so no talk about acquiring storm players as betrayal, Inglis, Slater and Smith must be plundered. They would make a tremendous acquisiton. Apparently the chief executive just said all the major players will leave too.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
As he should - I note here and elswhere there are debates tonight about stupidity of salary caps, common practice / everyone does it, legal rights, coteries of lawyers, libel actions, special / unique abilities and the like. Some things can be seen as they are without "assistance" from lawyers and fog from the periphery. If it's obviously wrong - dead set wrong - then it simply cannot be interpreted or dealt with as anything other than that. A crafty lawyer and a compliant judge acting stupidly three years later to excuse it simply does not change that.
jus de couchon
Guest
Wowee, if I was a lawyer in Melbourne Id be dribbling in anticipation. The Taxman will certainly be hovering to pick the bones.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
wladron gone http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/rebels-act-swiftly-in-asking-waldron-to-clear-his-desk-20100422-tg62.html
Dave
Guest
NRL Queensland, The Storms are going to neeed some serious money and they would off load before you can blink. Those three players and most of the Melbourne Storms squads will want to head straight for Japan or join their mates SBW, Gasnier, Gower and Rooney in France. I would be so imbarrassed to show my face as a Storms player in Melbourne and imagine playing in NSW and QLD with all those fans going to give it to them this year.
AFL Queensland
Guest
That is mostly (wrong) supposition. You will see the lower players cleaned out and the club retain its stars. If not any others, certainly the three named.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
The can do as the Dogs players did and agree to a pay cut. Though some of the second tier players will move on for sure.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
AFL Queensland it's very unlikely they can keep them legally. Nor if they wanted to go would they wish to attract more negative publicity by trying to get them to stay. Plus their contracts rely on third'party endorsements which will fall apart now. Plus they won't be able to pay them and actually keep under the salary cap. Plus they may well have get-out clauses in their contracts anyway. Plus if they did walk out while in contract like Sonny Bill Williams, unlike in his case, no one would blame them. It was said that the Rebels wouldn't poach those three players because Waldron didn't want to betray his old team. If he were fired, would that still be the case with the new CEO? Maybe the new CEO would think drawing Inglis, Slater and Smith to the Rebels is a great way to transfer the crowds.
AFL Queensland
Guest
As if the Storm are going to let go those three. More likely to have 10 players than go without those players.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
I'm not sure anyone would hold anything against Waldron as it all happened in a different sport. The specific quality is so useful for the franchise too: huge experience in managing and promoting a large sporting team in Melbourne. What the ARU should do is pounce on Inglis, Slater and Cameron Smith while they're available.