When Curtis Rona likened Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest to Donald Trump earlier this week, was it because he thinks he’s the man to bring the “fire and fury” to the Western Force’s fight for survival?
» WESTERN FORCE AXED FROM SUPER RUGBY
I can only assume that’s what he meant – along with, perhaps, other characteristics such as a massive bank account – and the Force centre wasn’t alluding to plummeting popularity or his recent loose encounters with the truth.
But Twiggy’s performance on Sydney radio on Tuesday was a bit disjointed, a touch Trump-like maybe?
The billionaire Force saviour, it seems, isn’t a fan of litigation.
“Let’s just make a decision on what’s best for the game,” Forrest said on 2GB.
“Litigation is not leadership. Litigation is a very weak form – I think almost a cowardly form – of getting any agreement done. It’s the last resort.”
Well, it should be noted that it was Rugby WA that initiated court proceedings in April after the ARU announced either the Force or the Melbourne Rebels would be axed in a reshaped Super Rugby competition in 2018.
Rugby WA won an injunction based on an agreement with the ARU that was signed in 2016 when the Force were battling financially.
So Twiggy believes that the arbitration, the results of which are yet to be announced, wasn’t necessary.
“I just wanted the ARU to sit down and talk and ask: what do you need out of rugby?” said Forrest.
“Do you need a really strong support base? Do you need a fabulous grassroots growing movement? Do you need a crop of Wallabies who are being grown in their home state? Do you need a growing crowd? Do you need a sea of supporters? Do you need to know a membership base is growing faster than anywhere else?
“Well, if they’re all your criteria then the last team you would bump off the list is the Western Force.”
But the absurdity of this is that given the Force’s financial frailties, the ARU’s intervention meant they were well aware of the club’s vital statistics and their standing in AFL-mad Perth.
That also goes for the Rebels, who, before being sold to Andrew Cox’s Imperium Group, were bleeding money and needed propping up by the ARU.
The governing body was very familiar with the Rebels’ financials, which wouldn’t have improved too much – if at all – in the intervening time.
The financial predicament the two clubs have endured and continue to struggle with is, along with failing to make a significant impression on-field, why they’re on the chopping block.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
So Twiggy points out that leadership isn’t about litigation, but it’s the legal threats and ongoing action that’s delaying a decision; a decision that players, coaches, officials and fans want expedited so they can prepare accordingly.
Which is fair enough. But everyone needs to understand who’s causing the delays.
Twiggy is the perfect man to be heading the PR campaign for the Force as well as giving his backing to any action in the Supreme Court, a course that has been floated if the club lose to the ARU in arbitration.
He’s undoubtedly influential and knows how to get deals done. And the ARU would be keen to keep him in the game, regardless of him coming to the party at a very late hour. The money involved in rugby union in Western Australia would be minuscule compared to what Twiggy deals with in the mining industry, but winning hearts and minds in the community is priceless.
If Forrest is apparently like Trump, then Rugby WA chairman Tony Howarth would have you believe the ARU is being run by Barron Trump.
“We won’t be done in by a group of people sitting in Sydney who think they understand the running of the game when they’ve been so fundamentally bad that people don’t want to go to Test matches any more,” he said.
“They can’t start blaming others for that. There comes a point when they have to take the blame.”
Rich coming from a club that has few excuses in a 12-season lifespan in which they haven’t once made the Super Rugby finals and have been propped up financially along the way.
The ARU need to proceed even as the bills mount. The alternative – not cutting an Australian side – would most likely be a lot more costly if the South African Rugby Union came for compensation.
andrewM
Guest
'The financial predicament the two clubs have endured and continue to struggle with is, along with failing to make a significant impression on-field, why they’re on the chopping block.' Hmm..Are we talking about the Rebels, Force, Tahs, Red or Brumbies here. Let's get one thing straight - straight from a ARU board member's mouth - the massive hole in the ARU finances is due to one team, and it's not the Force
Bakkies
Guest
and that Government may lose the upcoming state election
superba
Guest
Jacko, What this does to the depth of SA rugby I do not know but anyway it is beyond the scope of my comment. One of the problems SA rugby players has is the currency . And of course the transformation issue . These have done far more damage to SA rugby than the two teams going to Europe to the Pro 12/14. At present there are 300 SA players playing rugby in Europe. And 52 Springboks. Perhaps these two sides will provide a home for some of these players. Ultimately the depth of SA rugby will have to come from the black population to make up the 50% transformation figure. The comments of treachery and doing the dirty I find hard to understand. The sequence of events , as I read them were : SARU is advised to axe two teams This was non negotiable. So the two teams consider their options . What to do? While the negotiations are going on with SANZAAR , these teams are sounding out the possibility of playing in the Pro12. They are looking for a future. And as we know SARU decide to axe the Cheetahs and the Kings. What would you do if you knew you were going to be sacked ? Are you saying that they decided to enter the Pro12 before SANZAAR announced the axings ? If so you should provide some justification to hold such a view. There was plenty in the SA press re these teams playing in Europe once axings had been announced and this was before the axe fell . Why on earth would they decide to play in Europe if they could still play in the Super comp ? SA has looked after its players best interests as it is behoved to do . Unlike the useless ARU which has just cut the Force adrift and put 30 players , their families and support staff out of a living. For my money I would have culled Japan and Argentina . Expansion of the game is the responsibilty of the IRB. For years I have read on this site that Australians don't like SA sides in the comp, dont want to watch them in the middle of the night and advocated an AUS-NZ provincial comp. The next step could be for all SA provincial sides to join the European competitions once the Superrugby competition gets renegotiated in a few years, if this Pro14 venture is successful. Then those whingers on this site will get what they want . And the players salaries will tank because less money . And then ? One might see Aussie players heading off to Europe. What a bloody mess.
Justin Kearney
Guest
Perth is afl mad so lets give up? That is the small minded tripe spewed out by rugby league and union administrators for decades. You reap what you sow.
EGC
Guest
Not much can be done now. If there is an appeal, I think it will not be wise nor is it likely to succeed. I personally think that regardless of who took who to court, the reality is that international representative Rugby in this country is now ONLY an east coast thing (a bit like the USA claiming the world series baseball for all those years when it was only played by USA clubs exclusively). Beyond the initial splurge of cash by the ARU (who should be renamed the East Coast Rugby Union or ECRU) in WA to try and placate the critics and anger felt by fans, they will turn their backs on the game in WA as soon as they can. I would strongly plead with all lovers of the game to make your displeasure at the ARU and the manner in which they run the game in this country known at every opportunity. For example, boycott any ARU sanctioned games (international or otherwise, including super rugby matches) held in WA. If you can't stay away, leave your wallaby gear at home and pick up opposition scarves at the game (they shouldn't be called wallabies anymore - More Swamp Wallabies as they are only found on the east coast). Better still, go to a local game and spend your money there. Give to local clubs (become a member), ignore the ECRU and Swamp Wallabies. Lobby RugbyWA to concentrate on building the local league in direct competition with whatever they do on the east coast. Lobby to make Perth the first stop and base of touring teams so that most of the benefits stay here and are not wasted over the other side of the country. If the ECRU objects, show them what a bird looks like.
Jacko
Guest
Superba how does moving two teams to a EU comp improve the depth of SA rugby so that their teams will be more competitive in Super rugby? All this does is spread the SA talent further and that changes nothing. SA did the dirty on SR rugby and that is their decision...If that is what kills SR then so be it but dont hide from the fact that SA has been very sneaky in what they have done...Did they mention this in the discussions before these decisions were made or did they just agree with SANZAAR knowing they were lying all along? SA have put Aus in this situation to a point and it leaves a sour taste in Aus as Aus is the ONLY country suffering because of SANZAARs decisions. If SA had been up front and told SANZAAR that they intended to put 2 teams in the EU comp then do you still believe that everybody at the table would have still agreed to go down this track?
Dave
Guest
Clearly more Japanese money to be throw away on overpaid Wallabies top ups playing for mediocre teams like the Tahs will help Australian rugby more than a presence in the largest city in Australia where rugby union is more popular than rugby league.
Jacko
Guest
At least Leatherface worked to a quicker time frame
Jacko
Guest
Do you really believe that Cutting the Sunwolves is a great Idea? I see the Asian market as the future saviour of Oceania rugby and their $$ are going to be vital to the future of Aus and NZ. The 2019 WC is a major boost for the area and the success over SA at the last WC put them on the map. Unfortunately they will probably never be a strong tier 1 team due to their physical size but being a top 12-15 nation would deliver a very backable product with so much commercial investment coming their, and anyone they play, a great outcome. I see Asia as the future.....Not something to be cut now or any time soon
Dave
Guest
I'd definitely vote for a Scottish style, Western Australia party.
Dave
Guest
Well the ARU isn't welcome to have a team in Perth anymore if they do go back. Time to support the inevitable NRL team then.
Hannes
Guest
War started!
superba
Guest
JB how on earth can South Africa be called treacherous ? They were told to cull 2 sides and they did. Rather than abandon these sides they made provision for them and following negotiations they are now in the Pro12 competition . ie the Pro14. It is difficult to see treachery in this . Just that they were smart. Would it have been better to have done nothing ? WRT Argentina and Japan I do not know why they have been retained at the expense of Australian livelihoods. Anyway all too late now.
Hannes
Guest
WA breakaway from Australia to form our own country! What a novel idea. Just think we will keep the billions from exporting our resources, set our own interest rates and collect and spend our own GST. However, we may be treated like foreigners, without respect, and decisions made in the Eastern States without considering our interest.
Fionn
Guest
Get ready for an attempt at appeal. This will be the shame of Australian rugby if they cull the Force.
superba
Guest
ARU just announced that the Force has been culled .
Hannes
Guest
$14 million not $14
Hannes
Guest
He did not do it with fanfare as it was not needed then. Now it is needed.
Bakkies
Guest
Apparently the ARU won the arbitration this ain't over yet.
Bakkies
Guest
Panda posted a tweet about an announcement being made now.