The ARU has released a statement on the future of the Australian franchises’ in Super Rugby, responding to speculation about the possibility that one side may be cut from the competition.
The statement reveals little other than to say that the process of deciding what format the competition will take in the future is still ongoing.
The statement does, however, expressly say that no decision has been made on whether or not to cut an Australian team, or which team will be cut if that does occur.
That arrives in opposition to news reported last night by the Daily Telegraph claiming that the ARU had decided the Western Force would be removed from the Super Rugby competition from 2018.
The ARU’s statement does match up with that of the Force, who said last night the reports of the franchise’s demise was nothing more than speculation, and that no decision has yet been made.
The full statement from the ARU is as follows:
In response to recent media speculation, the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) issues the following statement in relation to the future of the Super Rugby competition and Australia’s Super Rugby teams.
ARU CEO Bill Pulver said: “The ARU wishes to clarify its current position in the SANZAAR review of the Super Rugby competition.
“As announced by SANZAAR following the SANZAAR Board meeting in London earlier this month, the four member nations have undertaken a period of stakeholder consultation to work towards an agreed outcome on the competition format for the 2018 season. This stakeholder consultation, which has included consultation with broadcast partners in each territory, is ongoing. At this point, there has been no determination on the future competition format or the teams involved in the competition.
“We also wish to confirm for the public record that no decision has been taken on the removal of one of Australia’s Super Rugby teams.
“ARU, as a joint venture partner of SANZAAR, is working towards a final resolution in the shortest timeframe possible and will inform Rugby fans as soon as an outcome is reached.”
Ruka
Guest
If Australia does go, I would not be surprised to see a competition between South Africa, Argentina, Japan and New Zealand. It's not ideal but Australia are not the be all and end all in this competition.
Ruka
Guest
Far too quickly have Australian fans and Australian rugby forgotten how they screwed (03) and then attempted to screw (11) the All Blacks again. Thanks for raising this point Ryan. Old Bugger raises more valid points, Australian rugby won't develop players they will simply pillage New Zealand, South Africa and the Pacific for players to fill their teams. In one sense sure it will give your 'Club' a huge boost however I feel it will only lower the standards of Australian rugby further as fewer and fewer Australians will get spots in the teams, or will the ARU implement a quota policy like that in French rugby where so many have to be local players?
piru
Roar Rookie
I think they've just been hanging around hoping - they never really went away when the Reds disappeared.
piru
Roar Rookie
Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France must all be at crisis point then
piru
Roar Rookie
The Reds didn't fail, they were caught up in the Super League BS and cut as part of the re-merger (is that a word) - they were winning games and I seem to remember made the finals their last two seasons
piru
Roar Rookie
Funny he only appeared after this news came out. He's no credibility and hence not worth paying any attention to
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
The NRL have been making serious noises about a new team in perth soon - perhaps they have some inside information about a potential vacancy !
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Which is curious as the senior editor of the West Australian newspaper recently retired was a good Nedlands Club rugby man as was the financial editor and a couple of others - yet there was zero coverage.. .
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
The fan base calling out for something - anything AND they got something - of nothing... hilarious; are those guys even paid?
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
LL - perhaps if you had a proper lens you might be able to see properly...
Old Bugger
Guest
Paul Unfortunately, it is only you who believes NZRUs policy, is self defeating. Only time will tell so, here's a thought for you. In the time it may take, for NZRU's policy to actually bring down or affect its national team's global ranking position and spinning into a downward spiral, wouldn't it be a wise process if the ARU and SARU, use that same time-frame, toward improving the ranking position of its own, national teams?? I mean, that sounds like "hitting two birds, with one stone..." to me and a win-win situation, for the ARU and SARU. As I said in a previous post, help is always available but, there has to be an effort to show an improvement otherwise, your request will just replace the same request, that originated up north. That is, the clubs doing the buying, have just changed hemispheres. Nah, its bad enough fending off clubs up north let alone, having to fend off clubs down-under, at the same time because that is exactly, where this process, will go. Sorry Paul but, I think NZRU will take its chances on continuing, with the status quo and, making sure that its players, continue in their pursuit of a black jersey while playing, their rugby in NZ.
Old Bugger
Guest
NV Your answer is in your explanation - you have a foreign club playing against an NZ club. At least a derby, is your own and with, your own supporters rather than, returning home to play your own, in front of, your own but now, previous supporters. But here's a query for you.....how would you fell if your foreign club does do well, in fact exceedingly well because, its full of kiwi players. And, is it in any way, improving the status of the local players or, the status of the club?? Personally, I think its the latter but worse still, these kiwi players will be taking positions away, from local players. Is that the answer to improving the national roster, of local players??
Comrade Bear
Roar Rookie
Nice!
Republican
Guest
.........I have to agree with you ross. Better to build Union up here starting with the GR and the design and construction of a solid domestic comp. It will be a slow process but one that will ultimately reap benefits for the code here I believe.
Republican
Guest
.....Bledisloe is overrated and supported in the main by Kiwis both here and across the ditch. NZS focus should be on an alternative Rugby cup say v Saffa, because we will never be the competitive Rugby nation they need us to be.........
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No it couldn't. That's absolute hubris. Rugby was never that popular with any regularity. Back then it was the 4th most played football code with high ratings for peak events. Like we still get today.
gatesy
Roar Guru
Unhelpful rubbish from ARU purely designed to stifle debate.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
How about before trying to dumb down the competition and level out NZ teams Aust actually starts to show some willingness to reform and improve ... we keep hearing Aust has the talent then if that's the case why not instigate their own draft - strip their SR teams of the state tie-in and try and show some change as opposed to all the other partners shifting to placate Aust rugby
Lincoln Lense
Guest
Devastating News. I was really hoping the Force were officially cactus and we wouldn' have to suffer anymore of those hideously boring derbys :( This nonsense about 'homegrown players' is just spin from their board.
Paul
Guest
Ryan, you can say what you like about letting Rugby collapse in Australia, but the simple fact remains that NZRU and ARU are inextricably linked. If Super Rugby dies without a replacement that includes Australia, so will any meaningful SH Rugby competition. Do you think your players will stick around to play ITM Cup?