Why we should all consider buying into the Force

In October the Western Force announced an initiative to to be given control of the club back from the ARU. Key to the plan is the proposal to sell 5000 certificates of ownership at $1,000 each, raising $5 million as a sign of the support for the Force from the rugby community.

Wherever you stand on the number of Super Rugby teams and its benefit or detriment to the game nationally, this is a wonderful initiative that everyone in rugby should get behind if they can. The fact is rugby in Australia is facing many challenges, one particularly insidious one being the shrinking support base. There are many reasons for this including a lack of engagement of supporters by the national unions, a perceived lack of success of a number of teams across all levels and poor governance. This is an opportunity for those of us in rugby to reconnect with the game and have a direct involvement in its future.

Many of you will think “Well I’m not a from WA and I have never supported the Force, I see no reason to get involved.” Firstly, why not? I challenge anybody to say they really dislike the Western Force. This is not the Reds coming cap-in-hand to a Waratahs supporter. Everyone is allowed to have a second favourite team and why not make that second favourite team one you own a chunk of?

Also if the commentary that has been floating around Australian rugby is anything to go by many of you are feeling disconnected with your team. Why not take this opportunity to start fresh, support something from the ground up and be part of something?

I firmly believe that should the bell toll for the Western Force it will toll for us all. Despite its numerous failures both on and off the pitch the Force are starting to contribute more to the national team. While many of the players coming through are from rugby’s heartland in the east, they are getting an opportunity to play at a higher level at the Force where they may be stuck behind incumbents at other franchises. Maybe the Force are making it harder for an Australian team to win super rugby by spreading the talent more thinly, but if so they are still contributing to the overall health of the game.

I’m a New Zealander, a die-hard Canterbury and Crusaders supporter and I am looking at getting involved. I have no connection to Western Australia, I’ve never even been there. But I want to support rugby wherever it is, whoever is playing it and I see this as a way I can be a part of growing and encouraging rugby in this country. So why not scrounge the cash together, maybe split a share with your mates? They are looking at giving these supporters a say in things like the board of management and match day activities so you can really feel like your vote means something.

And besides, who doesn’t want to say they are a part owner in a professional sports team?